Mumbai,nov 21
Former cricketer Ravi Shastri on Thursday predicted the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) between India and Australia and said that the first two matches of the series will be “crucial.”
After months of anticipation, India and Australia, two heavyweights in Test cricket, are set to renew their fierce rivalry in Perth starting Friday.For the last few years, Team India have dominated Australia in the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India have won the previous four BGTs, starting from the 2016-2017 season. Speaking on Star Sports Press Room, Shastri said that both India and Australia have a great chance in the first two Test matches of the BGT series.”Prediction is, I think India has a great chance in the first two Test matches, as do Australia. And that’s why I think I kept saying again and again, after the first two Test matches, if you see one team having the upper hand, I think they will go on to dominate. The first two Tests are crucial. Both teams can win the Test matches,” Ravi Shastri was quoted in a release from Star Sports.The much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar series will kick off on November 22 with the first Test in Perth.The second Test, scheduled from December 6 to 10 at the Adelaide Oval, will feature the exciting day-night format under lights. The third Test will take place at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to 18.
The iconic Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will run from December 26 to 30, marking the penultimate match of the series.The fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, set for January 3 to 7, will bring the series to an exciting conclusion.
Skipper Rohit Sharma will join the Indian team here on Sunday, the third day of the first Test against Australia at the Optus Stadium.Rohit was unavailable for the opening Test as he stayed back in India with his family for the birth of his second child.Rohit and his wife Ritika were blessed with a baby boy on November 15.Premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah is leading India in the Perth Test as the visitors start the defence of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“Rohit will be arriving in Perth on the third day of the Test match,” a BCCI source confirmed to PTI.Hence, the 37-year-old will be available for the second Test against the Australia at Adelaide from December 6.However, Rohit has been in touch with the squad in Australia, and Bumrah said as much during his pre-match press meet on Thursday.”I spoke with Rohit earlier. But I got a little bit of clarity on leading the side after coming in here,” said Bumrah. Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah affirmed that his side is not carrying “any baggage” from India of their historic whitewash against New Zealand and offered surety about the team being well equipped for the challenging conditions and series ahead of them.
India didn’t land in Perth in the most ideal form, which was the need of the hour. While many expected India to march into Perth with a red-hot streak, the Test giants are now tottering for momentum.The 30-year-old speedster ensured India had their learning from the first home Test series whitewash in 24 years and reminded that the conditions on play in both series are different.
