The much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is set to commence on February 9th at Nagpur, will be without one of India’s key players from the previous edition, Rishabh Pant. Pant is unable to participate in the series due to injuries sustained from a serious car accident on December 30th, 2022. Currently, the cricketer is receiving treatment at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai and has undergone multiple surgeries to aid in his recovery.
Reports indicate that the talented left-handed batsman could miss up to 18 months of cricket, meaning that he may also miss the upcoming ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup next year. This news has come as a blow to not only the Indian cricket team but also to his fans around the world.
Pant’s teammate from the Delhi Capitals franchise, Marcus Stoinis, has shared a heartfelt message for the injured cricketer. Stoinis expressed his wishes for Pant to recover soon and return to the field. “One player who will be deeply missed this season is Rishabh Pant. It is unfortunate that he is not with the team, but I hope he will recover soon and come back to the field,” said Stoinis, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
Despite being a dominant force in Test cricket, the Australian team has been unable to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from India in recent times. Stoinis, who is currently not a part of the Australian Test set-up, stated that the team does not want to lose the trophy this time around. He acknowledged that beating India on their home soil is a challenging task, but he believes that the Australian team is strong enough to overcome this obstacle.
“This time we don’t want to lose the trophy. The team never wants to lose, but this could be the third time and we don’t want to give up this year. Our squad is too strong, and facing India on their soil is difficult as we have to face spin tracks over there. However, we are determined to do our best,” said Stoinis.
The all-rounder also noted that India has some specialist bowlers, such as R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who can bowl exceptionally well. However, the Australian team is also equipped with some specialist spinners, so fans can expect a close competition between the two sides.
In conclusion, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is one of the most highly anticipated events in the world of cricket and is sure to attract a lot of attention. Despite the absence of Rishabh Pant, fans can expect a thrilling and competitive series between India and Australia. The Indian team will be looking to defend their title, while the Australian team is determined to reclaim the trophy. With both teams boasting strong and talented players, fans are in for a treat.
