India vs Australia Test Series Preview

India’s burgeoning rivalry against Australia in the Test arena resumes on the 9th of February in Nagpur as Pat Cummins’ side begin their four-match series against the Men in Blue in the subcontinent. It’s been six years since the two sides battled with the red ball in Indian conditions, with the Men in Blue edging out Australia 2-1 in a feisty contest in 2017, and this series promises to be an equally pulsating encounter featuring some of the biggest names in the game.

India will be looking to extend their unparalleled dominance over the last decade in the subcontinent, hoping to win their 16th consecutive series at home. The stakes are also raised for the hosts with their qualification for the World Test Championship final on the line. Rohit Sharma’s side are number two in the points table behind Australia but will need to beat Pat Cummins’ side by a 3-1 margin or better to assure their place in the marquee event at the Oval later this year.

Australia, meanwhile, don’t have fond memories of playing against the Men in Blue in whites in recent times. The tourists have lost each of the last three Border Gavaskar series – including two at home in 2018/19 and 2020/21 – and will be hoping to return the favour and win their first Test series in India since 2004/05.

Pitch report

The conditions at the Vidarbha Cricket Association in Nagpur are likely to be dry, providing plenty of assistance to the spinners. Australia batter Steve Smith proclaimed there won’t be much bounce in the surface, but “it will be quite skiddy and maybe a bit of up-and-down movement as the game goes on.”

Team News

Both teams have suffered various injuries and availability issues in the lead-up to the first Test in Nagpur. Rishabh Pant has been ruled out for the entire series following his accident earlier this year, and Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer will also miss out on the first Test due to injuries.

Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are expected to reunite at the top of the order for the hosts, while Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav are the two batters fighting it out for a spot in the middle order at number five. The spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel are likely to be in the XI alongside pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj.

For Australia, pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are unavailable for the first Test, along with all-rounder Cameron Green. Scott Boland and skipper Pat Cummins are likely to be the two pacers, while off-spinner Todd Murphy could make his debut alongside veteran spinner Nathan Lyon.

Probable XI’s

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Pete Handscomb, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Scott Boland