The much-awaited Border Gavaskar series will be about to start from 17 December at Adelaide with the Day-Night pink ball game when team India lock horns with Australia for the 4-test match series.
Australia will about to misses the services of David Warner in the first test match as he is not fit yet to be a part of any practice match or training. But still, they have the best line-up and complete bowling column to be optimistic that they have the advantage over team India in the upcoming border-Gavaskar trophy.
From the last time team India tour down under this time around they have more youngsters in the line-up which is another reason they are not favorites to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Although team India has won the T20l series by 2-1 and has momentum. But in a format like a Test match teams need to be perfectly balanced from bowling department to batting line up.
In the current team apart from Virat Kohli, Pujara, and R.Ashwin, there is no other player who can be the match-winner for the team on the tour. The captain Virat Kohli will be part of only the first test match which makes things more difficult for team India from the second test.
Earlier against New Zealand this year, India has already lost by 2-0 which is again another factor they are not favorites to win this test series against Australia in their own territory. If team India has to win the series they have to score massive runs else Australia will not give a chance to turn around things.
Having said, let us take a look at the three reasons why Australians are optimistic to win the test series.
1) Advantage of home conditions for Australia
Although team India has defeated Australia in Australia last time. But this time it is a different story as on the last tour Steve Smith and David Warner were not in the team. But Ashes series 2019 was the glimpse of what is about to come from Steve Smith and David Warner willow in the coming years. However, David Warner will not be part of the first test match but very sure he will be back before the second test.
Beating Australia in their own territory is no easy task for the visiting team when they have inexperienced players in the squad. Team India has to plan out the things to survive in the test series with the key players.
2) Absence of Virat Kohli
The Indian skipper Virat Kohli will be part of the first test match only. After that, he is going to miss the rest tour due to paternal leave. The current Indian line-up revolves around modern-day great Virat Kohli. His presence in the team from acrobatic fielding skills to batting is all-important for the current inexperienced Indian team.
There will be a lot to depend on the first test match that how Virat Kohli will perform. He will definitely look to provide momentum to the team with a victory. But without Virat Kohli, it is going to be a tough task to survive against mighty Australia in Australia. Ajinkya Rahane would be leading from the second test in the absence of Virat Kohli. But it will be interesting to see how he will plan out things against the strong Australia line-up in absence of Virat Kohli.
3) Mighty Bowling attack of the Australian team
The second big factor where Australia has an edge over team India in the test series. From Mitchell Starc to Josh Hazelwood to Pat Cummins to James Pattinson the four frontline genuine fast bowlers for Australia. Everyone has the ability to bowl at 145 kmph on the fastest pitches of Australia. All four can put any opposition into the shambles with their accurate line and lengths.
Even in the spin division, Australia has the match-winner in the form of Nathan Lyon. But team India has to figure out the best bowling line-up in the series who can be the match-winner.
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