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T minus one: D-Day is nearly upon us!
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is here at last. A series with the hype and buzz that matches the Ashes or an India-Pakistan tussle. A tour that now stretches across five Tests as opposed to four. And one where both teams are on the lookout for redemption in their own different ways.
It's been a decade since Australia last laid their hands on this trophy. Of course, their most recent Test outing against India saw them clinch the World Test Championship mace in London last year but having gone down 2-1 on home soil in 2018-19 and 2020-21, the time has come to set the record straight.
And then, there's India - a team in the early stages of what seems a long and arduous transition but with matters complicated further after a shock 3-0 drubbing on home soil to New Zealand. Their captain isn't available for the series opener while their number 3, who has shown good form in the format throughout 2024, is all but out of the Test with a finger injury. Add to that the factor of adapting to the pace and bounce of the Perth Stadium and it's a serious challenge on hand.
But then again, no series between India and Australia is ever short of challenges for either side irrespective of where they play. Australia certainly start this series as favorites but a closer look is suggestive of chinks in their own armor - something India would do very well to exploit a third time in a row.
There's nothing complicated about the hosts' selection, however. Nathan McSweeney will get his baggy green and open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja with Steven Smith moving back to his more fancied number 4 spot. From the thirteen selected for this Test, Josh Inglis and Scott Boland are set to miss out with the rest of the lineup wearing a familiar look.
Three players ought to be at the center of all attention as far as the Australians are concerned. Skipper Pat Cummins, as one of the world's premier bowlers and how he marshals his troops, particularly in the absence of Cameron Green's overs. Travis Head, a name so familiar with Indian fans for two incredibly damning heartbreaks handed out to them and of course, his ability to counter-attack and send India into the defensive. And Smith - has he found his hands back again?
The fact that Australia's batting lineup has been susceptible to collapses puts into perspective the importance of the latter two replicating their heroics from the WTC final regularly. McSweeney being thrust up top despite just two first-class innings as an opener is a big punt but it is one that the selectors have taken on account of his high ceiling. The surprise package this series though could well be Alex Carey, who has been in scintillating form for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield.
There are plenty of question marks over what combination India will put out for this Test. Considering the nature of the surface over the years - batting friendly with good bounce before the cracks open up - you'd think that India would go in with four seamers. But they will do well to keep in mind Nathan Lyon's brilliant record at this venue and the value of a spinner in the second half of the Test.
If the net sessions are anything to go by, there's a chance that the visitors punt on Nitish Kumar Reddy as their seam-bowling all-rounder with Ravichandran Ashwin slotting in as the lone spinner. From the outset, it doesn't sound wise to drop Ravindra Jadeja in whose absence India have struggled to balance their side in overseas Tests and it would take a brave think-tank to omit him and thrust young Reddy into the deep end of the pool.
Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah's tactics will court intrigue, as will his workload over the course of this series. Mohammed Siraj returns to the land where he announced himself four years ago but with his recent form a big worry, he has to put his best foot forward. Akash Deep is likely to round off the pace attack and could emerge as the X-factor against the left-handers in particular.
That said, how does India's batting take shape? KL Rahul is set to play as an opener again while his Karnataka teammate Devdutt Padikkal could be a stop-gap number 3 until Gill returns. Dhruv Jurel's application and maturity during the recent A series is set to see him walk in as a specialist batter but it's the two names before him who could make or break this series. Virat Kohli loves batting in Australia but his recent returns in the format have been a worry beyond doubt. It's the exact opposite with Rishabh Pant who you'd think must inevitably score consistently enough and frustrate the Australians again if India are to complete a three-peat.
So there you have it. Another blockbuster series between two box office outfits. Some fresh names, some familiar faces, familiar issues in one department for both teams to deal with and a host of superstars. And of course, scope for a whole lot of banter, chirp and shenanigans archetypal of the BGT. Oh, and the small matter of an IPL auction in Jeddah that is set to run parallel with this first Test - how much will that weigh on the minds of the players from both sides?
This is Australia versus India. And it simply cannot get bigger than this!
Australia Probable XI: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
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