Matthew Hayden refuses to pick India as BGT 2024-25 favorites due to Cheteshwar Pujara’s omission

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden shared his verdict on the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between India and Australia. He believes that Cheteshwar Pujara would've been a sure bet in Australia, mentioning that runs will be the point of difference.

The two of the best teams in the game India and Australia will be up against each other in the five-match Test series. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is all set to take place in Australia in November-December and January. Arguably one of the best series in cricket currently, has already taken its toll on the fans.

India and Australia have played a magnificent brand of cricket over the last few years. But it has been the Rohit Sharma-led who have had an upper hand since 2018. They have won two back-to-back series down under and also have been dominant at home.

But this time it will be a different Indian team altogether. The team is under transition and some of the youngsters are expected to be on board. Therefore it will be a different challenge for the India National Cricket Team to be up against the rampaging Australia National Cricket Team, who are WTC 2023 winners as well.

Matthew Hayden believes that both teams have formidable lineups and therefore for him, it will be hard to pick favorites. He stressed Cheteshwar Pujara's effect over the last two series and said that the best batters will have to stand up. Speaking to PTI, he explained:

"You look at the lineups, and it's hard to tell who has the edge. I sense that it's going to be runs that are going to be the point of difference. Guys that are sure bets have retired like (Cheteshwar) Pujara was a sure bet in Australian conditions.

"Was he exciting? No. Was he effective? Heck, yes. When you look back over the years, guys like Raul Dravid, and VVS Laxman... were sure bets in our market. The best need to stand up in this series, runs are going to be at a premium,"

Cheteshwar Pujara was the main reason behind India winning the last two Test series in Australia. He was Player of the Series in India's historic 2018/19 series win in Australia, where he scored 521 runs in four Tests at 74.42. In the next series, he was the wall for the Indian team in batting.

Who's the very best of the best - Matthew Hayden on Border-Gavaskar Trophy

While talking further about the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Matthew Hayden was of the opinion that Australia might end India's streak of wins this time. He said that the upcoming series will be a great opportunity for both teams to find out who is best. He explained:

"We haven't had it (the trophy) in our hands for two series in Australia, which is kind of the coveted grounds. Not that's similar to the Steve Waugh era here in 2001, where this was the hallowed turf, this was a place where Australia wanted to come and win."

"And his great era didn't do it. There's always this fantastic opportunity for the No. 1 (and) No. 2 sides on the World Test Championship to go head to head, especially abroad in each other's camps and see who has those kinds of final rights to claim not only the possibility of playing the (World) Test Championship (final) but also who's the very best of the best, which you judge on how you tour, not so much how you play at home," he concluded.