"Challenge is huge": Josh Hazlewood terrified of facing India in BGT 2024-25

Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has admitted to the fact that India are used to playing in Australia which makes them such a formidable opponent for them. India and Australia will face each other later this year in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

While hardly any team has been able to give Australia a tough fight at home, India have successfully won their last two Test series played in Australia. The Men in Blue have been phenomenal on both occasions, in 2018-19 and 2020-21.

India have won the last four Test series played between these two teams, two in India and two in Australia. The last time Australia won a Test series against India was in 2014-15 when Australia won the four-match Test series 2-0.

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Josh Hazlewood admits India are used to playing in Australia

While speaking to Star Sports ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Josh Hazlewood admitted that India are used to the conditions in Australia. Talking about the upcoming challenge, he hailed India's strong batting line-up. The right-arm quick also remembered his debut Test series when Australia last won a Test series over India.

"Yeah, probably sums it up there. Toughest rivalry. It's always a great challenge playing against India and they are so used to the conditions out here. They love it in Australia," Josh Hazlewood said.

"The challenge is huge. Their batting, their top order, no matter who is playing, is unbelievable. Their top six or seven. I played them in my debut series obviously and we got the win. That might have been the last time (that Australia won a Test series against India)," he added.

#JoshHazlewood takes confidence from his debut test series against #TeamIndia and feels that #Australia could win the #BorderGavaskarTrophy 🏆

And with his statement, we're ready to witness the #ToughestRivalry in #BGTonStar, starting FRI 22 NOV onwards! 🏆

Comment with a ❤️ if… pic.twitter.com/0sFVtA14Hc

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) September 7, 2024

Australia's last Test series win over India

Josh Hazlewood made his Test debut in the second Test of the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar series in Brisbane. He made an immediate impact and went on to claim a five-wicket haul in his debut innings. Overall, Hazlewood picked up 7 wickets in the Test match as Australia edged India by 4 wickets.

During the interaction with Star Sports, Josh Hazlewood also stated that that a lot of the players haven't beaten India in a Test series since Australia haven't won a series against India in almost a decade.

"A lot of the same players are still playing. I think I got Virat (Kohli) in that game. So a lot of our players, I guess, haven't beaten India in a Test series. The guys were playing such as Travis Head, Cameron Green, guys like that. Huge summer for us coming up and hopefully (we) get that trophy back," Hazlewood concluded.

The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be a five-match Test series. Notably, the last time India and Australia played a five-match Test series was during the 1991-92 season.

Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood will be a key part of Australia's bowling attack. Hazlewood will be assisted by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in the pace department. The trio has served Australia for a long period of time and will be crucial to Australia's chances here as well.