Not Virat Kohli! Travis Head names India's 'biggest player' ahead of BGT 2024-25

Travis Head scored 181 runs against India in the World Test Championship final 2023.

The highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 is set to kick off on November 22, with the first test scheduled in Perth. India made history the last time they toured Australia, winning their second consecutive test series series on Australian soil.

The challenge for the Asian giants is much bigger this time with the Australian team looking more settled with in-form batsmen like Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head and Alex Carey. In contrast, India are coming into the series after their historic home test series whitewash at the hands of New Zealand.

As the excitement builds, star Australian middle-order batsman Travis Head has identified India’s biggest player ahead of the series. Surprisingly, Head has not named modern-day great Virat Kohli as the biggest threat to Australia.

Travis Head identifies Jasprit Bumrah as India’s biggest player

Speaking to Fox Cricket ahead of the series, Head lavished praise on Bumrah, describing him as “impossible” to face and the ultimate X-factor for the Indian side.

Head said, “You try to feel like you’re one step ahead, but it always feels like he’s that next step. Any format of the game, he’s incredible. He’s their X-factor, he’s the guy they go to every time, and more often than not, he’s able to produce for them.”

Head also acknowledged Bumrah’s ability to deliver in the big moments. He continued, “In big moments, you want big players, and I think he’s their biggest. You’ve got your work cut out as a batter. He’s someone that’s going to be difficult over summer.“

Head’s comments are a testament to Bumrah’s impressive record on Australian soil. In two previous test tours, the pacer has taken 32 wickets at an average of 21.25, including a match-winning 6/33 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2018.

Notably, Bumrah has been highly effective against Head, dismissing him four times in international cricket at an average of 28.5. Bumrah also boasts the third-best bowling average in test cricket (minimum 150 wickets) of 20.57.

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