Former England captain Michael Vaughan noted that Pat Cummins appeared content after India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, chose to bowl first at The Gabba in the third Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar series. India won their third consecutive toss and, unlike in the first two Tests in Perth and Adelaide, decided to bowl first due to the overcast conditions.
In their previous encounter at The Gabba, Australia had chosen to bat after winning the toss. The hosts have historically had a strong record at the venue, except for their last two visits. Despite the overcast weather, bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj found little help with the new ball.
Opening batsmen Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney managed to navigate the early overs by being cautious and taking advantage of any loose deliveries. Vaughan thinks Cummins was pleased that India chose to bowl first at the toss.
“It was one of those decisions at the toss where I think Pat Cummins was absolutely delighted to have lost it. He didn’t have to make the call. Probably would have swayed on batting due to the history of this venue, but I think he was quite happy Rohit Sharma said we will have a bowl first,” Vaughan told Fix Cricket (via Hindustan Times).
Former Australia pacer Brendon Julian stated that it was a fortunate toss for Cummins to lose and noted that the surface didn’t offer enough to support Rohit’s decision to bowl first.
“Good one to lose. I think the lead up to this Test was a lot of rain and when the players came out for their practice sessions before they had a look at it, it was green. But out there this morning I didn’t think it was a bowl first pitch this morning,” Julian said.
Rohit Sharma and his team were on the field for 13.2 overs before rain halted play
Australia was at 28-0 in the 14th over when rain interrupted again, significantly delaying play. While the first rain delay was brief, the second set of showers led the groundsmen to cover the pitch and the officials to call an early lunch on Day 1.
Bumrah had given away only eight runs in his first six overs, while Akash Deep, who replaced Harshit Rana in the playing XI, was also introduced into the attack.
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