Young Indian Star Named Sledge Master by Australians for BGT 2024/25, Virat Kohli Overlooked

The anticipation for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is reaching fever pitch as cricket fans eagerly await the clash between powerhouse teams India and Australia in the upcoming five-match Test series. The Australian squad is determined to reclaim the prestigious trophy, which has eluded them for the past decade. The reputation of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has skyrocketed in recent years, with both teams showcasing top-notch cricket and intense rivalries on the field, creating unforgettable moments that dominate headlines.

The broadcasters of BGT Star Sports posted a video on social media where Australian players Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, and Marnus Labuschagne were asked to pick an Indian player who sledges the most, and it was not Virat Kohli who they chose.

The Aussie stars made a unanimous decision and chose wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who is known for his funny antics behind the stumps.

Pant has engaged in several banters with Aussie stars in the past. He first travelled to Australia during the 2018-19 tour, during which his and Tim Paine's 'babysitter' banter grabbed the limelight. The former Aussie Test skipper asked Pant if he could babysit for him and for his wife after the series. It was followed by Paine's wife posting a photograph on Instagram with Pant, and their children. Paine's wife's post went viral and became a part of cricketing folklore.

Meanwhile, Pant recently opened up on his way of sledging from behind the stumps.

"Nobody plans and do it. But I don't like it when someone does it, so I sledge politely. They were saying things like 'Big MS is here, 'Come and play T20 cricket in Hobart, you'll get a good apartment, babysit my kids'. I also said a few things," said Pant.

Australia's last two home Test series losses to India have left a blemish on their record Down Under over the past decade. Besides, Australia have not beaten India in a Test series since 2014-15, which includes a twin series loss both home and away. Since winning the last series 2-0 a decade ago, Australia have lost the next four series against India - two to Virat Kohli's side (2016-17 and 2018-19), and one each against Ajinkya Rahane (2021) and Rohit Sharma (2023).