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India’s upcoming Test series in Australia is generating immense excitement due to the intense nature of recent encounters. Australia last won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2015, and it has since remained with India. As the reigning world Test champions, Australia has faced consecutive series defeats at the hands of India on home soil.
India is aiming for a third consecutive series victory on Australian soil, but cricket legend Ricky Ponting anticipates a change in fortune for the Australians, forecasting a 3-1 series win for Pat Cummins and his team. Meanwhile, former India head coach Ravi Shastri acknowledges the series will be fiercely competitive but is confident that Rohit Sharma’s squad will emerge triumphant.
“The Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia over five Test matches is going to be a humdinger,” Shastri told ICC. “Remember, India have beaten Australia twice on the last two tours and Australia have not had a hand on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in almost a decade and that’s the reason why everyone will be waiting for these two heavyweights of Test match cricket over the last five to eight years to go head-to-head.”
“It is going to be one heck of a series and India have every chance of making it a hat-trick because they’ve got their bowlers fit and if they can bat well, they can tickle (beat) Australia once again,” he added.
India and Australia last faced off in Test cricket during the ICC World Test Championship final, where Australia emerged victorious by 209 runs to claim the trophy. As the reigning world champions, Australia will be seeking retribution in their upcoming series, according to Shastri.
“We know what Australia will be wanting (revenge),” Shastri said. “They will be thirsty, they’d be looking to go at the throats of the Indians because they’ve been beaten there (in Australia) twice,” he said.
“The attack is pretty much the same. One of the greatest fast bowling attacks – (one of the greatest) all-round attacks when you add Nathan Lyon there – in a long, long time. And one of the best in the history of the game. They’ll be looking for those 20 wickets, game after game to help Australia win the series,” he added.
India boasts a formidable batting lineup, yet they remember how Australia consistently challenged them on their last tour, highlighted by the visitors being dismissed for a historic low of 36 runs in the day-night Test at Adelaide. Despite this heavy defeat, India bounced back to secure a 2-1 series victory.
“It’s going to be India’s batting against the Australian fast bowlers. And of course, the Indian bowling attack is going to be something everyone will be waiting to see,” Shastri said.
“With (Jasprit) Bumrah fit, (Mohammed) Shami fit, you’ve got Mohammed Siraj there. You’ve got the likes of (Ravinchandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja and some very good bench strength as well. One can’t wait for that series to start and (I think) India can do the hat-trick (of series victories in Australia),” he concluded.
