According to the ex-head coach Ravi Shastri, India has the potential of winning a third consecutive Test series in Australia through their strong bowling department and powerful batting order with players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
The Kangaroos have not beaten India at home since a 2-0 series win in early 2015 and the latter have won both the encounters between these two teams Down Under since then and held on to their Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is claimed by winning team in this fixture.
“Even if Jasprit Bumrah comes back fit, Mohammed Shami is fit now so you got Mohammed Siraj there. You’ve got Ravindra Jadeja and also Ashwin. And very good bench strength.” ICC has been told by Shastri. “We can’t wait for that series to start because it’s going to be one hell of a series,” he added.
However, Shastri feels that his bowlers must first put up decent totals before they (the bowlers) can make any impact.
As per Shastri, “It would be one hell of a series and there is every chance for India to make it three-in-a-row as far as Australia is concerned because their bowlers are fit once again with regards to scoring runs – who knows they might just beat Australia again”.
Starting this November, India will play five matches against Australia including one test match at Perth.
In fact he added: “But for those people who are really cricket fans themselves this five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy contest between the two sets of cricketers will become almost like a cult event.”
“They haven’t had their hands on that Border-Gavaskar Trophy for nearly 10 years now; so these two heavyweight teams of Test match cricket over the last 5-8 years are going go head-to-head. That’s why everybody will be eagerly waiting,” explained Shastri.
Shastri feels that the Australian team, having a strong bowling line-up of its own, will be motivated by revenge after losing back-to-back series in the last two editions of this contest.
“They’ll (Australia) would want to go for the jugular as they say; so when Australia plays India in Australia it’s always like that”.
It is exactly same attack. One of the best fast bowling attacks –- all-round with Nathan Lyon being added there too – seen in many years and perhaps one of the greatest ever in the game itself. And they have to take those 20 wickets again and again every match to make sure that Australia wins the series.
“It’s going to be Indian batting versus Australian fast bowlers. Of course, everybody is waiting for India’s bowling,” he concluded.
