India will lock horns against Australia in the third Test match at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore from Wednesday onwards. The home team won the Delhi Test match by six wickets to a 2-0 lead and they will be looking to carry the winning impetus whereas it will be a do-or-die Test match for the visitors.
We look at the current form, head-to-head, players to look out for, and squads of both teams in our match preview.
Current form of India: W W W W L
India has ticked the right boxes in the series, especially with the ball. However, their middle order hasn’t yet delivered but the lower order has rescued them in the series. The spin trio of Ashwin, Jadeja, and Patel have been right on the money for Rohit Sharma and they have done an amazing job.
Current form of Australia: L L D W W
Australian batters will need to trust their defense if they have to stay alive in the series. The tourists lost nine wickets for only 52 runs in the second innings at Delhi and it was the turning point in the game. With Pat Cummins missing, the onus will be on Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon to deliver with the ball.
Head to Head: Matches: 104, Won by Australia: 43, Won by India: 32, Draws: 28, Tied: 1.
Australia holds the advantage in the head-to-head battle against India.
Players to watch out for: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Mohammed Shami will hold the key for India.
Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Travis Head, and Nathan Lyon will be the crucial players for Australia.
India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.
Australia: Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith ©, Mitchell Starc, Matt Kunhemann.
