NEW DELHI: The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia drew unprecedented attendance, leading former Australia captain Ricky Ponting to assert that the rivalry is arguably the biggest in world cricket.
Traditionally, the England-Australia Ashes rivalry held this status, but the five-Test series saw a record 8,37,879 spectators. Melbourne Cricket Ground alone hosted 3,73,691 fans across five days, surpassing the 1937 record of 3,50,534.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Ponting, astonished by the numbers, emphasised the fan-driven intensity of the rivalry.
“I had a look at the numbers yesterday, it was something like 837,000 people came to watch the Test matches, which is unheard of here in Australia,” Ponting told The ICC Review. “So now that this series has happened, Australia have England coming out next summer so we'll get a better idea then. If the numbers aren't the same, then there'll be no doubt that the (Border-Gavaskar) rivalry (is bigger), certainly from the fans’ point of view.
“There's two separate parts to this: There's what the fans want to see and the rivalry that they want to make of it, but it's also how the players view the rivalry between the three teams now.”
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri praised the spectators for elevating the bar for Test cricket. “One stat stands out: 3,75,000 people coming through the gates in that Melbourne Test match, beating the record set 90 years ago of 3,50,000. (In) 1936/1937, when the ‘G’ could hold 120,000 people and when Bradman was playing. It just goes to show the sudden interest in the modern era. The bar has been raised. The bar has been raised big time," he said.
“For people to get out there and watch cricket when there is television, when there are OTT platforms, where all that is there, still for 375,000 people to come (to Melbourne) and then replicate that in Sydney with full houses, it’s unreal,” Shastri added.
Ponting echoed Shastri’s sentiments, crediting the series' narrative for drawing global attention.
“The fans, understanding how good these two cricket teams are, want to be there and want to be part of it and want to see Test Match Cricket at its absolute best,” he said. “Right now, it's really hard to argue that this isn't the biggest rivalry in world cricket. It's grown. Year-on-year, and Ravi (Shastri) and I have been a part of most of these for the last 15, 20 years. We've felt how it's been growing and growing and the rivalry gets bigger and now the fans are into it as well," Ponting added.
The series concluded with Australia reclaiming the trophy after a decade and securing a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final. Ponting lauded Australia's resilience, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney, where they outperformed India in challenging conditions.
Shastri also praised Pat Cummins’ leadership and determination.
“He (Cummins) amazes me. Even when I was the coach in the dressing room, I would just admire his determination, and his willingness to compete. He never gives up and it's like that session after session – he'll come at you with the ball,” Shastri said.
“And just when the chips were down, various times in the series, he rose to the occasion. And not just with the ball, but with the bat as well.”
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