"India have given themselves an excellent chance of reaching the WTC final" - Sanjay Bangar on visitors drawing BGT 2024-25 3rd Test

Sanjay Bangar believes the drawn third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 was like a win for India. He opined that the result has given Rohit Sharma and company an excellent chance of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Australia declared their second innings at 89 for seven after taking a 185-run first-innings lead on Day 5 (Wednesday, December 18) of the third Test against India in Brisbane. However, they could bowl only 2.1 overs in India's second innings before rain brought a premature end to the proceedings.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Bangar replied in the affirmative when asked whether India would see the draw as a win.

"It is entirely a win. When 445 runs were scored in the first innings, if the entire play had happened in this Test, it would have been very difficult for India to come back in the match. The rain also helped India. Now the upcoming Test matches become very interesting," he said.

"If the series ends at 2-2 or 2-1 for either team, the Australia-Sri Lanka series will become very important. I feel South Africa have a slightly easy path to reach the final but these two teams have a lot of chances. Australia have four chances for sure but there are more chances of the percentage points going down in four chances. So India have given themselves an excellent chance of reaching the WTC final," Bangar added.

With 55.88 percent points, India are third in the WTC points table. South Africa (63.33), who have a two-Test series remaining against Pakistan, and Australia (58.89), who have two games left against Sri Lanka apart from the Melbourne and Sydney Tests against India, are ahead of them in the standings.

---

"We have now got the chance to play mind games" - Sanjay Bangar feels India's morale will be higher than Australia

Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep's last-wicket partnership helped India save the follow-on. [P/C: Getty]

In the same discussion, Sanjay Bangar noted that India can play the mind games now, considering the first three Tests were played on tracks favorable to Australia, with Josh Hazlewood potentially ruled out of the series.

"We have now got the chance to play mind games. Australia had the chance to play mind games earlier and they tried to use that. The scoreline is not in their favor based on the itinerary. (Josh) Hazlewood, one of their main bowlers, will probably be out of the series," he said.

The former India batting coach added that the Australian batters haven't yet found an answer for Jasprit Bumrah.

"Their top order is not scoring runs. They have not understood Jasprit Bumrah's bowling thus far. They have given him 21 wickets. Overall, I feel the Indian team's morale will be higher. Australia will be sitting disappointed and India will go to Melbourne happy," Bangar observed.

Australia haven't won a Test in Melbourne or Sydney in India's last two tours Down Under. While India won both Boxing Day Tests, the two New Year's Tests ended in draws.