Top 5 funny moments in Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests
India has dominated the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having won 9 of the 15 tournaments since it was established in 1996–97. Australia has won five series and drawn one. According to the numbers, the Indians are ahead of their competition. In addition to ensuring their spot in the championship game, India’s cricket team hopes to extend their recent winning streak over Australia in Test cricket.
There have been some amusing incidents during Border-Gavaskar Trophy matches and off the field. Here are five examples:
1. Rishabh Pant and Tim Paine have some lighthearted banter (2018-2019)
Australian cricketers have a reputation for being rough and sledging their opponents. During India’s 2018–19 tour of Australia, Australian captain Tim Paine engaged in lighthearted ribbing with several Indian batsmen, most notably wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant. Sometime later, Paine jokingly asked Pant if he could babysit.
Pant’s humorous response—in which he called Paine a “temporary captain”—followed in kind and left everyone in stitches.
2. Ishant Sharma pokes fun at Steve Smith (2016-2017)
Australia won the 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy after dominating India in the first Test, played in Pune. Ishant Sharma, bowling for India against Australia in the second Test match of the series in Bengaluru, appeared to make faces at former Australian captain Steve Smith in an apparent attempt to make fun of Smith’s behaviour while batting.
Sharma reflected on the incident and explained, “I was just trying to upset him and was thinking how to do it; I was just trying to get him out of the comfort zone, I was just trying to make him uncomfortable.”
India triumphed in the Test by a 2-1, claiming victory and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
3. The Homework-gate Incident (2012-2013)
In the 2012–2013 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia lost the first two Tests of the four-match series in India. Mickey Arthur asked for advice after Australia lost the second Test. The cricket squad had to respond via SMS, email, or letter to the coach.
Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Usman Khawaja, and Mitchell Johnson were suspended from the third Test at Mohali for failing to comply. Everyone called the homework mishandling incident “Homework-gate.”
Cricketers were suspended for not submitting their “homework,” which was widely criticised. It was unforgettable and funny.
4. Getting to the toss late (in 2000, 2001, and 2003–2004):
During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy competitions between 2000 and 2001 and 2003 and 2004, the then-Indian captain Sourav Ganguly repeatedly kept the Australian team’s captain, Steve Waugh, waiting.
Steve Waugh was irritated and short with the Indian captain because he was late to the toss. Since Dada found the situation humorous, he kept Waugh waiting at the toss.
The strategy appears to have paid rewards, as India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2000–2001 by a score of 2-1 and tied the 2003–2004 series Down Under 1–1.
5. Jasprit Bumrah’s Steve Smith impersonation (2020–2021):
Steve Smith has a distinctive batting style and several odd habits that have made him famous. On the opening day of the third Test in Sydney during the 2020-2021 Border-Gavaskar Trophy season, Jasprit Bumrah acted like Steve Smith.
The Indian team was in fits of laughter at Bumrah’s impersonation, and even Smith joined in on the fun. It was nice to watch a humorous event during the severe Test series.
