In only 8 days, one of the fiercest rivalries in cricket will return when Australia’s visit of India kicks off on February 9. For the Border-Gavaskar trophy, which India last claimed on Australian soil, both teams will square off.
Rishabh Pant orchestrated a legendary comeback and won GABBA. Due to the possibility of winning a ticket in the ICC World Test Championship Finale, the hosts will aim to maintain their superiority over their Australian opponents this year.
Before the series begins, former India head coach and Australian International Gregg Chappell said that Australia’s chances of winning the Border-Gavasakar trophy have increased after injury setbacks to star wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant and bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
“Delhi and Dharamshala will be a fortress for India. Nagpur is a red soil pitch on which batting is best on the first three days unless they produce a raging turner. In Ahmedabad there are red as well as black soil pitches and the state of the series will dictate what India order.”
They started off strong in the Pune Test on their most recent trip of India in 2017, but they ultimately lost the series 1-2. India, on the other side, has a record-breaking winning streak of 15 series and has not lost at home in more than a decade.
“I have seen a lot of Tests in India and it is as much a battle of the mind as of physical skills. What works in India, is not guaranteed to work anywhere else. Winning in India takes pluck, planning, patience and persistence.”
