India vs Australia: Matthew Hayden predicts the winner of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Former Australia National Cricket Team batter player Matthew Hayden dropped a bold prediction for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He believes that the Pat Cummins-led side will win the series but was quick to quip that India cannot be written off.

The much anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is just around the corner now. Two of the best teams in the business will be clashing with each other in the five-match Test series, which will be played from 22nd November to 7th January and will also be part of the ICC World Test Championship.

India and Australia, over the years, have engaged in enthralling battles in the Tests. But it has been the Rohit Sharma-led who has the upper hand over the opposition both at home as well as overseas as they are yet to lose a series against the Pat Cummins-led side since 2016.

India over the last two tours to Australia has been dominant

India, over the last two tours to Australia, has been dominant. They have produced a magnificent effort with bat and ball over the last two series and have won two back-to-back series, which not many have done. This time around, too, they would be hoping for the same and would be keen to complete a hat trick of wins.

But beating Australia in Australia this time around won't be an easy topic. The Pat Cummins-led side has been on a rampage at home for the last few years. They hardly have lost anything at home and the fact that they beat India in the World Test Championship final 2023, they surely would be favourites.

I say Australia is going to win but I'll also say this: Watch Team India go! - Matthew Hayden

Matthew Hayden, too, believes that Australia will win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. But he stressed the fact that the hosts would have less home advantage because of the drop-in wickets. Speaking to Star Sports, he explained:

"I say Australia is going to win but I'll also say this: Watch Team India go! I feel like there's less home advantage, given the nature of the drop-in wickets than what had been previously there. There are three drop-in venues - Perth, Adelaide, and the MCG (Melbourne)."

There is probably not that much home advantage for Australia due to the wicket conditions - Matthew Hayden

Matthew Hayden further said that three venues out of the five venues have drop-in pitches, and Australia will have a home advantage in just the third and fifth Test matches. He feels that it will be a tough challenge for hosts as well due to wicket conditions. He added:

"So you've got your two home venues in Brisbane and Sydney; those just happen to be the third and fifth Test match, which is a very different combination to any series that's been played there,"

"I feel like, at the moment, there is probably not that much home advantage in the Australian summer anymore due to the wicket conditions."

The five-match Test series between India and Australia will kick start from 22nd November in Perth. The focus will then shift to the second game, which will be a day and night fixture and will be played in Adelaide on 6th December.

Following that, two teams will play at Gabba in Brisbane on 14th December, which will be the fourth Test. After that Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will be on 26th December. The last match will be played in Sydney on 3rd January.