Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has predicted that Australia will win the Border-Gavaskar trophy by 3-1 against India. Australia have lost back-to-back Test series against India despite playing in their own conditions.
India won their maiden Test series against Australia in Australia on the 2018-19 tour under the leadership of Virat Kohli. On the previous tour of 2020-21, the visitors were blown away in the opening Test match at Adelaide as they were skittled out for 36 runs. However, the Ajinkya Rahane-led team bounced back in style to register a 2-1 series win as they won in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Meanwhile, Australia is currently the number one Test team in the ICC rankings and also defeated India in the World Test Championship final.
“I’m obviously going to tip Australia to win and I’m never going to tip against Australia. There will be a draw somewhere and there will be some bad weather somewhere, so I’m going to say 3-1 to Australia,” Ponting said in the recent edition of the ICC Review.
India had never savored success Downunder until 2018-19. However, the current Indian team has given a run for its money to the Australians and has gotten the better out of them in the last two tours.
“That’s when I think India seemingly really started to stand up to the fight and say, OK you’re playing against India now. This is a different Indian team, we’ve got different leaders and different players and we’re going to do it whatever we can to beat you guys – whether it’s in India or in Australia,” Ponting said in the same interaction.
“I’ve said for the last couple of years now, Australia have always had a fierce rivalry with England, obviously, and a very strong rivalry with South Africa. But I think India is now sitting right on the back of what an Ashes clash is like and probably overtaken the rivalry with South Africa,” Ponting concluded.
The first Test match between India and Australia will be played in Perth from November 22.
