Former India head coach Ravi Shastri reckons that the Men in Blue will complete a hat-trick of series wins against Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The gruelling five match Test series will get underway from November as India will hope to replicate their heroics from 2021.
Shastri noted that Australia have not laid their hands on the BGT trophy for nearly a decade and that India have the upper hand heading into the series, having won two consecutive tours against Cummins and co.
Ravi Shastri predicts India to win Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Shastri opined that India could succeed in getting a hat-trick series win if the batters could perform well while the side manages to keep the bowlers fit. The Men in Blue created history at the Gabba in 2021 with Shastri as the coach watching Pant take the team across the line. Years after being replaced as head coach, Shastri reinforces the faith in the boys to pull of yet another successful tour against Australia.
“Remember, India have beaten Australia twice on the last two tours and Australia have not had a hand on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in almost a decade,” Ravi Shastri said, as per ICC.
Revenge on the mind of Australia
The former Indian coach acknowledged that Australia will be playing with revenge on their minds. He opined that the team, which has the best bowling and all-round setup, will aim for 20 wickets game after game to counter India. Shastri predicts the contest to come down to a faceoff between Indian batters and the Australian bowlers.
“It’s going to be India’s batting against the Australian fast bowlers. And of course, the Indian bowling attack is going to be something everyone will be waiting to see,” Shastri suggested.
Australia and India last met in the World Test Championship (WTC) finals which saw Pat Cummins and co shatter the dreams of the Men in Blue. While India is ranked number one in the Test standings, defending champions Australia are currently in the second postion.
India vs Australia Test series
First Test: November 22-26: Perth Stadium, Perth
Second Test: December 6-10: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Third Test: December 14-18: The Gabba, Brisbane
Fourth Test: December 26-30: MCG, Melbourne
Fifth Test: January 3-7: SCG, Sydney.