In the opening two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar series, India punched first to draw first blood but the visitors were knocked out in the second game, suffering a 10-wicket loss against the hosts, Australia. As renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle posted on X, the series is going like a five-set tennis match and the score is 6-2, 1-6, one set-all between the two heavyweights.
As these top two teams get ready to take the ring once again at the Gabba, Brisbane to take advantage in the series, it will be interesting to note which team will come on top. Gabba had been a happy hunting ground for Australia over the years but their fortress was breached by India on the previous tour of 2020-21.
That three-wicket win had given the visitors their biggest and most memorable Test series win and once again the Indian team will look to get the job done.
Meanwhile, India’s batting was found out in the second pink-ball Test at Adelaide as they returned with scores of 180 and 175 and the batters definitely need to pull up their socks. The tourists will want consistent performances from Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Rohit Sharma.
India’s bowling also looked toothless and Akash Deep can replace Harshit Rana, who went wicketless at Adelaide. Ravindra Jadeja can also get a spot in the final XI in place of Ravichandran Ashwin.
On the other hand, Australia ticked the right boxes with both bat and ball. Mitchell Starc returned with career-best figures of 6-48 whereas Travis Head continued his love affair with India, scoring a blistering knock of 140 runs.
Match Prediction: With winning momentum on their side, Australia might start as favorites against India.
India squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
