India vs Australia 1st Test Nagpur: The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is considered one of the fiercest rivalries in Test cricket. Whenever India and Australia have faced each other, there have been some memorable moments and great performances on the field. Australia and India, currently ranked number one and two respectively in the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings, will lock horns in a four-match series starting on February 9 to kick off the fierce rivalry between the two teams.
India is the current holder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having won the last three series against Australia in 2017, 2018-19 and 2020-21. A 4-0 series win for India will help them achieve a 68.06 points percentage, which is likely to be enough for a crucial top-two spot in the WTC standings. When both the legendary teams will clash with each other, it will be interesting to see who will have the upper hand. Let’s have a look at the players:
Virat Kohli :
Virat Kohli, one of the best batsmen in Indian cricket, has been in fluctuating form in recent years. He has recently restored his characteristic aggressive style against his opponents in white-ball cricket. It will be interesting to see how the run-machine, with his exceptional focus and well-timed shots, will bring his best skills to the fore when he takes the field against Australia. Kohli has amazing records against Australia. He has scored 1682 runs in 20 matches at an average of 48.05, including seven centuries and five half-centuries.
Ravindra Jadeja:
Ravindra Jadeja will be keen to make a strong comeback in the upcoming series against Australia after being ruled out of August 2022 due to a knee injury. Along with his bowling, his batting will also be crucial to provide stability in the middle order. Known for his excellent fielding skills, he will be a complete package available in the Indian set-up. The flamboyant all-rounder was included in the Saurashtra squad to test his match fitness ahead of Australia’s tour of India, where he took 7/53 against Tamil Nadu. Jadeja has an impressive Test record against Australia, taking 63 wickets in 12 matches at 18.85, including three five-wicket hauls.
He was the leading wicket-taker of the 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and was named Player of the Series after taking 25 wickets and scoring two half-centuries in four matches. The all-rounder could trouble Australia’s batsmen during the Tests in Nagpur and Ahmedabad, where conditions are expected to favor spin bowlers.
Shubman Gill:
Given his excellent form in the limited-overs series, Shubman can prove to be beneficial for India in this year’s Border Gavaskar. He scored a match-winning Test century in Bangladesh in December and scored his maiden ODI double century in January. In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year, the youngster scored 259 runs in three matches at an average of 51.80, with a highest score of 91 at the Gabba. Gill’s current form showed that the 23-year-old has enough confidence to score big against the mighty Australia.
