Both India and Australia have gone through rigorous training in the build-up to the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting on Friday (November 22) in Perth. This time for the first time since 1991-92, the series will have five Test matches. In the first match, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma will register his absence as his family welcomed a second child, a baby boy, over the weekend.
In his absence, pacer Jasprit Bumrah will lead the team in the presence of superstar Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul. In Rohit’s absence, KL Rahul is expected to open the batting for India alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. India are eying their third consecutive BGT title in Australia, having claimed it twice in the past in Australia. Moreover, India have been undefeatable since 2014-15. As far as India’s recent performance is concerned, they are coming off a terrible 0-3 Test series defeat against New Zealand played earlier this month in India.
Australia, on the other hand, will enter the series with a full-strength squad, boasting the likes of Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Pat Cummins will lead the side as they look to claim the BGT title for the first time in a decade. Steve Smith, who was earlier promoted to open the batting following David Warner’s retirement, will return to his traditions no.4 position. Australia come on the back of impressive form, having clinched victories in the last four Tests. Meanwhile, they have not beaten India since 2014-15.
Head-to-Head (Post 2010)
MATCHES: 30
Australia WON: 10
India WON: 14
Aus Probable XI: Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
India Probable XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna/Akash Deep