From ‘Faux Villain’ Virat to Beloved Bumrah; Ex-AUS Cricketer’s Take on Upcoming BGT 2024 Series – News18

As the cricketing calendar counts down to the headline event of the year, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024, the former Aussie cricketer, Geoff Lawson shares his take on the highly anticipated contest between two of the toughest sides in world cricket.

Both sides will be looking to figure out their respective squad combinations with 2-3 months left for the series. Reflecting on what is to come, Lawson talked about the duality within the Indian team. Kohli is his boisterous self while Bumrah might have a chance to interact with the Australian crowds and possibly be a fan favourite in that regard.

“Virat Kohli will play the faux villain to Jasprit Bumrah’s likeable nature. Bumrah has the fast bowler privilege of [spending] half a life at fine leg which gives him the ideal chance to interact with the crowd, winning smiles and hearts while Kohli will lurk in the infield appealing vociferously, fielding magnificently and engaging verbally with any Australian player so inclined to conversation, and there will be one or two of those,” Lawson was quoted by Mid-day.

While Kohli has certainly made a name for himself with his on-field aggression, at 35 the Indian icon has toned it down with the attitude and now dons a more friendly nature to his persona. But Lawson sees that regardless of the version of Kohli the fans will get to see, runs are pretty much guaranteed when it comes to a class batter in Kohli.

“Aussie crowds love a competitor like Kohli, they may give him some grief if he plays the antagonist but you can guarantee that if he makes 50s and 100s he will be loudly applauded by the fans. He has shown a liking for Australian conditions ever since his first tour 13 years ago. Bounce and pace suited his two-footed game but the question in 2024 is whether he still has the razor sharpness to best Australia’s attack on their home surfaces. I wouldn’t count him out,” he added.

The former fast-bowler hailed the current skipper Pat Cummins who has brought the side together to go on and dominate on the world stage. But Lawson sees the Border-Gavaskar trophy as the final piece in the Cummins’ trophy cabinet. India has had the trophy since their home series win in 2016. But now it is time for the mighty Aussies to reclaim their title.

“Pat Cummins may smile a lot but his competitiveness is ingrained and powerful. Having hinted at a never faltering mindset, some Australian players have been quoted as having unfinished business. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been loaned to the BCCI for a decade, it’s time to get it back on the trophy shelves in Jolimont (Cricket Australia’s headquarters in Victoria). Australia may hold the World Test Championship but without a home series win against India, the crown sits unsteadily,” claimed Lawson