IND vs AUS: Allan Border praises India’s unprecedented growth in cricketing world

Former Australia great Allan Border has lauded India for rising as a superpower in the cricketing circle. In the last few decades, Indian cricket has grown incredibly. On the field, the country won ICC titles such as World Cup in 2011 and the Champions Trophy in 2013. 

In 2021, the team also became runners-up in the World Test Championship (WTC) after losing to New Zealand by eight wickets in Southampton. Currently, India is the only team that has found a spot in the top 2 of the ICC ranking of all three forms. In the last five years, the side also became the only Asian nation to win the Test series on Australian soil. 

The national governing body of cricket in the country Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also played its role efficiently by finding talent who could take the nation’s standard in the sport to a great level. With domestic competitions such as Indian Premier League (IPL) and Ranji Trophy, India have got some great players who have played excellently in the international circuit. Financially, the BCCI has also ensured that things go smoothly by generating profits through sponsorship and broadcasting rights.

While having a conversation with India Today, Border discussed the India-Australia rivalry and called India the favourites in the current times. The 1987 World Cup-winning captain also added that it would be interesting to see the Rohit Sharma-led side play the World Test Championship final in a neutral location at the Oval.

'From short and fairly humble beginnings with their cricket team to just a world power' - Allan Border on India's cricket supremacy

Impressed by India’s evolution in the sport, the former Aussie legend Allan Border didn’t shy away from praising the growth of the Indian team as well. “Oh, most definitely. India does have the upper hand at the moment. They will get a chance, won't they in England at the Oval when these two teams play in the World Test Championship final game at The Oval. So, it will be thrilling in itself to watch them go at it in a neutral country."

"But as you said, the rivalry has built up slowly but surely. There was a period where the Australians were very very dominant. Don't forget we didn't tour India all that often. Before I came in 1979, we weren't here since 1969. So it's a big gap between teams playing against each other. That's how far India has come," the 67-year-old stated.

"I mean from short and fairly humble beginnings with their cricket team to just a world power and probably the world power financially, and with the cricket team put together, absolutely fantastic," the Sydney-born legend continued.

"They're winning games away from home, so I'm really looking forward to firstly, this Test match, and see how the series finishes and see how they battle in neutral territory at the Oval in London," Border concluded.

On day 1 of the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022-23 in Ahmedabad, the Aussie skipper Steve Smith won the toss and chose to bat first. So far, the Australia batters have looked dominating against the hosts, racking up 347/4 with the help of the magnificent century of Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green’s 95.

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