Australia registered a resounding victory over India in the final Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy to clinch the series 3-1.
It was a clinical performance from the hosts who bounced back strongly from their first Test defeat in Perth.
Australia qualified for the final of the World Test Championship
With this win, Australia reached the final of the World Test Cup where they will face South Africa at Lord’s from June 11, 2025. It is Australia’s second consecutive WTC final after reaching the summit clash last time and even raise the title.
However, the result of this match also means that India are now officially out of the race to qualify for the WTC finals. It was also their last match in this cycle and it will be the first time that they will not enter the WTC finals.
Social media was flooded with disappointment after India’s failure to reach the WTC finals for the first time. The fans criticized head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma and blamed them for the huge disappointment.
Twitter reacts to India’s failure to qualify for WTC Finals
From “Toota hai Gabba ka ghamand” to aaj “Toota hai Gambhir ka ghamand”. The arrogance without performance shown by the Indian team has now been laid to rest.
— Raashii’s Tribe – Led by Gautham (Fan Page) (@raashiikhanna) January 5, 2025
AUSTRALIA HAS QUALIFIED FOR THE WTC FINALS…!!!! 🏆
– It’s Australia v South Africa at Lord’s. pic.twitter.com/oD4DGNIQhR
— Ivanovi. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 5, 2025
🚨 INDIA IS NOW OUT OF THE FINAL COMPETITION FOR WTC…!!!! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/7o5HIKqXV2
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 5, 2025
He failed to qualify for the WTC finals for the first time in history 🔥#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/bCbidZ5HB8
— S (@kingslanding_18) January 5, 2025
🚨 If we had won this match –
We wouldn’t lose the series.
The series would be tied 2-2.
We would keep BGT.
We could have played the ICC WTC Final.This was the biggest game of this WTC cycle, but we unfortunately lost it. pic.twitter.com/inRHEoI5LM
— Vishal. (@SPORTYVISHAL) January 5, 2025
India is now out of the running for WTC finals…!!!! 🚨
And they deserve it#GautamGambhirexcept him #RohitSharma𓃵 , #ViratKohli𓃵 ,#Gill, #KLRahul #Cheese, #RAVINDRAJADEJA for their helpless performance#INDvAUS
Without Bumrahpic.twitter.com/duksckNP8x— Rahul Gupta (@RahulGu04197245) January 5, 2025
After Gautam Gambhir becomes the head coach
– After 12 years of Lost Home test series against New Zealand
– After 12 years of losing the BGT Test series against Australia
– India could not qualify for the WTC finals for the first time since its introduction pic.twitter.com/6ufAFrmMVf— Prakash (@definitelynot05) January 5, 2025
Jaiswal gave all the years in Tests, carried this line of batsmen all year, topped every run chart, finished the BGT as the top scorer for them at the age of 23 only to miss the final.
First WT20, now WTC final, and then most likely no CT feeling 💔 pic.twitter.com/1qzS6s3GlU— R (@Jais_era) January 5, 2025
– Domestic series Whitewash
– Loss of the BGT series after 10 years
– I failed to reach the WTC final for the first timeWhat suddenly went wrong?
— Kanav Bali (@Concussion__Sub) January 5, 2025
Tuta hai WTC finale ka ghamand 😭💔 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/LdqhkuHbwT
— Jyoti thakur (@Tissa__vaasi) January 5, 2025
Two and a half months ago:
– India were unbeaten at home, building a crazy record over 12 years
– Held the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for 10 years
– We were locked into the third consecutive WTC final.How things can change in cricket… #INDvAUS
— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) January 5, 2025
It’s not just a defeat for Team India, it’s a defeat for the country.
We lost the WTC final, the World Cup final and the Border Gavaskar Trophy to Australia under the same captain.
Why didn’t he announce his retirement?#INDvAUSpic.twitter.com/Ak0xvYHdn8
— SOMAN18 (@Shreyasian96) January 5, 2025
Australia proved to be dominant
The match was tied at the start of the day with India leading by 145 runs with four wickets remaining. However, Australia’s bowlers produced an attacking display of fast bowling to bowl India out for just 157 in the second innings.
The men in blue could only add 16 runs to their total, leaving Australia with a target of 162 runs to win. The hosts started in quick fashion with opener Sam Konstas getting going straight away after bowling. However, in this process he lost his gate to Prasidha Krishna.
Krishna struck twice and dismissed Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith in quick succession to bring India back into the game. But Usman Khawaja and Travis Head used all their experience and steadied the ship. Siraj dismissed Khawaja for a well-made 41 as India saw some hope.
But debutant Beau Webster combined with Head in the end to lead Australia to a comfortable victory. The absence of Jasprit Bumrah in the second innings also played a big role. With this win, Australia not only reached the WTC final but also reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
