"This has become a Jasprit Bumrah vs Travis Head series" - Aakash Chopra on the focus on duo in BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Former India player Aakash Chopra has noted that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 has virtually become a battle between Jasprit Bumrah and Travis Head. He pointed out that the duo have outshone all other members of their respective teams.

The fourth Test of the five-match series between India and Australia will be played in Melbourne from Thursday, December 26, onwards. While Bumrah (21) was the highest wicket-taker in the first three Tests, Head (409) was the top run-getter.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener highlighted the importance of Bumrah and Head for their respective sides.

"The number of wickets Jasprit Bumrah has taken, Rohit Sharma has actually scored fewer runs than that, and the number of runs Travis Head has scored is almost equal to the number of runs scored by the rest of the Australian top order, including Steve Smith," he said (0:01).

"Travis Head is on one side and the rest of the Australian batting is on the other. So this is not the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This has become a Jasprit Bumrah vs Travis Head series, which is still standing at 1-1 courtesy these two players," Chopra added.

Bumrah was the Player of the Match in India's 295-run win in the first Test in Perth. Head won the accolade in Australia's 10-wicket win in the second Test in Adelaide and the drawn third Test in Brisbane.

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"The Indian team will once again look towards Jasprit Bumrah" - Aakash Chopra

Jasprit Bumrah's 21 wickets in six innings have come at an outstanding average of 10.90. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Team India will hope Jasprit Bumrah continues his dominance over the Australian batters.

"The Indian team will once again look towards Jasprit Bumrah, that he should listen to their request and somehow dismiss all the batters. Usman Khawaja is a very senior player but it seems like Bumrah will leave him at the stage of his career where there will be questions whether he will stay or not," he said (1:30).

"Nathan McSweeney used to be there with him but now he too is not there. Sam Konstas is coming in his place. Then Marnus Labuschagne - one knock, Steve Smith - one knock, and Mitchell Marsh comes and goes. That's the kind of dominance this player has shown. So the focus will once again be on Bumrah," the analyst added.

Chopra urged the Indian seamers to bombard Travis Head with bouncers.

"When I see the opposing team, I understand it's Travis Head. When the ball gets old, the pitch becomes flat. They are mostly new-ball pitches. Travis Head comes to bat down the order. There is a short period and if he manages that, it becomes very difficult. So I will request with folded hands that you should bowl him bouncers," he elaborated.

Chopra concluded by hoping that the scales are tilted towards Bumrah in his battle with Head. He added that it's almost mandatory for India to win the game in their quest to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.