Ravichandran Ashwin pinpoints the match winner for Australia in Test series win against India

India’s journey toward securing a spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final 2023- 2025 ended when they suffered a series-defeat against Australia in Sydney earlier this month. The defeat sealed a 1-3 series outcome in favour of the hosts, also marking Australia’s triumphant reclamation of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. Adding to India’s woes, this defeat followed a demoralizing 3-0 series whitewash against New Zealand, placing their WTC campaign in jeopardy. India needed a win or at least a draw in the five-match series to remain in contention for the WTC final, but Australia’s superior strategy and execution dashed their hopes.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s choice: The series game-changer

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, reflecting on the series, highlighted Scott Boland’s pivotal role in Australia’s victory. Boland was not initially part of the playing XI but was drafted into the squad due to Josh Hazlewood’s injury. Ashwin termed Boland’s inclusion as a “stroke of luck” for Australia.

“All said that Pat Cummins had a great series, but he struggled against left-handers. Australia was lucky that Scott Boland came into the team. If Boland hadn’t played, India would have won the series. No offence to Josh Hazlewood; he’s a fantastic bowler. But if they had continued with the same attack, we would have won. Boland’s round-the-wicket deliveries to our left-handers were a major factor,” Ashwin asserted during his YouTube channel discussion.

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Remarkable performance against India

Boland delivered an exceptional performance throughout the series, cementing his place as a key player in Australia’s bowling attack. In three matches, Boland scalped 21 wickets at a stunning average of 13.19. Boland’s around-the-wicket tactics and pinpoint accuracy troubled India’s left-handed batters, becoming a critical factor in Australia’s success. His finest display came in the final Test in Sydney, where he recorded a 10-wicket haul, including devastating figures of 6/45. Boland also managed to dismiss Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli four times, showcasing his ability to adapt to high-pressure situations and exploit weaknesses.