Aaron Finch picks one key player from India and Australia for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Former Australia white-ball captain Aaron Finch reckons that wicketkeeper-batters Alex Carey and Rishabh Pant will be key players for Australia and India respectively in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Carey and Pant are aggressive batters, who can take the attack to the opposition.

India will face Australia in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series from November 22 to January 7. The series will begin with the first match at the Optus Stadium in Perth and conclude with the final Test in Sydney. The matches will be important for both sides, keeping qualification for the World Test Championship (WTC) final in mind.

Speaking on the Willow Talk Podcast, Finch opined that with the top-order of both sides likely to suffer collapses at different stages during the grueling series, Carey and Pant could hold the key for Australia and India with the bat in hand.

"I think the key could be Alex Carey and Rishabh Pant," Finch said, as quoted by ANI

"The two wicketkeepers are going to be so important. For me, it is that really crucial role of Alex at number seven and Rishabh at number six likely. Carey is aggressive, Rishabh is aggressive. The game is going to go one or two ways really quick. And I think that will be so important," the 37-year-old went on to add.

Carey (33) has represented Australia in 32 Tests and has scored 1,339 runs at an average of 31.88 and a strike rate of 59.40, with one hundred and eight fifties to his name. As for Pant, he has featured in 38 Tests and has notched up 2,693 runs at an average of 44.14 and a strike rate of 75.39, with six hundreds and 14 half-centuries.

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Alex Carey and Rishabh Pant's record in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Carey has played only four matches against India as part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In six innings, he has managed just 56 runs at an average of 9.33, with a best of 36. The left-handed batter, however, shone with scores of 48 & 66* in the 2-2023 World Test Championship final against India at The Oval.

Shifting focus to Pant, he has played seven matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In 12 innings, the southpaw has smashed 624 runs at an average of 62.40, with one hundred and two fifties to his credit.