Ajinkya Rahane's worries increase as Cricket Australia hypes up THIS Steve Smith record?

Even if you can - somehow, with some effort - igre what happened to India in first India vs Australia 2020 Test last week, India's chances in this series seem bleak. With Virat Kohli on paternity leave, new captain Ajinkya Rahane will have his work cut out for him starting with Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. With lingering memories of that series loss in 2018-19 still in ir minds,  hosts will be rey for redemption against a weakened India side - similar to Aussie side India so emphatically defeated last year to record ir first series win in continent. 

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Of 12 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series that India have played in Australia, Men in Blue have only mand three series draws and one series win. That makes for a pitiful result of 29 losses, 7 wins and 12 draws from 48 matches for India. This statistic becomes even more concerning when you factor in loss of Virat Kohli and Mohamm Shami, d in fairly inexperienced top order and Rohit Sharma's lack of practise time ahe of 2nd match. Contrasting India's bleak numbers, Cricket Australia's latest figures on Steve Smith could also worry Ajinkya Rahane. 

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Steve Smith career stats at MCG a concern for India

Melbourne Cricket Ground, tritional host of iconic Boxing Day Test, has become a bastion for Steve Smith since he played his first Boxing Day Test here, a dece ago. Smith returned to MCG in 2013 after being dropped from Test squ post his unsuccessful 2010-11 Ashes campaign and has t looked back ever since. His aver in Boxing Day Tests since n sits at a mammoth 144. Returning to his most successful Test venue after his poor showing in 1st Test, Smith will be a force to reckon with for India.

"It's been a while since n, I've grown as a player over that time and my Boxing Day record is probably my best in Australia of all grounds," Smith said of this record. Taking field against one of his favourite opponents this Saturday, Smith will be chasing his first century in almost 15 months - his longest century drought ever. This will be his second Boxing Day clash against India and it comes with a dangerous precedent. His first Boxing day clash against India came in 2014 when he scored 192 in his first series as captain. Smith's has scored 7 of his 26 Test centuries in just 11 Tests against India and will be hoping to sneak in a few more as well this time around.

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India vs Australia schedule

Second Test: December 26-30, MCG, 5:00 am IST

Third Test: January 7-11, SCG, 5:00 am IST

Fourth Test: January 15-19, Gabba, 5:30 am IST

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Im Credits: AP