Border Gavaskar Trophy: Australia's thirst for revenge vs India's desire to write history

After two months of action-packed cricket in Middle East, spotlight w moves to toughest and enduring format of game as India travels down under to lock horns with number one Test team Australia on ir home ground. While all eyes remain on Border Gavaskar Trophy, India will also be facing 2015 World Champions in limited-overs format as tour begins with a T20 series in vember and is scheduled to go on till January. As cricket continues to rejuvenate post COVID-forced break, India's tour of Australia is expected to completely overshadow several series including one between current World Champions England and a battling South Africa and West Indies' tour of New Zealand. 

India had last visited Australia in 2019, when y faced a hurting and resurging side under Justin Langer's new era which had to overcome haunting of Sandpapergate. When two giants of cricket took field, it wasn't just rmal Team India fighting for pride and victory. It was Men in Blue under roaring Virat Kohli - who matter what, gave it back - and brought into play his aggressive team which hunted to kill.

Kohli's attacking mode reflected in squad selection as a spin-friendly Team India orwise turned into pace dominant with likes of yorker maestro Jasprit Bumrah, second-innings hero Mohammed Shami, and raring Umesh Yadav. On or hand, Australia were daunted by absence of ir stars on any day - David Warner and Steve Smith. With such conditions when Kohli's tigers faced Paine's kangaroos, result was palpable. Men in Blue emerged victorious and etched ir names onto history by defeating Australia for first time on ir home soil. 

Thirst for Vengeance

However, times have changed. As Kohli's tigers gear up to face Tim Paine & Co. in Border Gavaskar trophy, Team India skipper will have to be wary. reasons, again being obvious, are firstly, return of fiery munition - David Warner & Steve Smith - in ir arsenal and secondly, ir thirst for vengeance. re is a third factor that sways psychological advant towards Australia which is Men in Blue will be without ir leader in three Test matches. This comes as BCCI has approved Virat Kohli's paternity leave and he will be returning back to base after first day-night Test in Adelaide. Taking te of development, Australia's Justin Langer has already expressed that India will surely miss 'best player in world'. 

However, while Team India will surely miss its skipper, inclusion of IPL champion Rohit Sharma might just be morale booster. After being snubbed in squad selection due to injury, Mumbai skipper has been included in Test side after deliberation and is expected to regain match fitness just in time for Test series. Despite Virat Kohli's absence, World Test Championship table-toppers - India - has artillery which boasts of some great names in Test cricket. se include modern-day incarnation of Rahul Dravid - Cheteshwar Pujara - vice captain Ajinkya Rahane, Mayank Agarwal, Ravindra Jadeja, Hanuma Vihari, and veterans Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin. squad also includes some young blood after series of impressive performances in IPL and domestic circuit. 

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India's questions, Australia's answers

If India seems to have posed tough questions to Australia in previous tour, hosts might have found right answers just in time. Anuncing a 17-man squad for Test series, Kangaroos have brought in uncapped all-rounder Cameron Green and batsman Will Pucovski. Seems like what Rohit Sharma does in ODIs, Pucovski does in Tests. Australian young gun is coming off two consecutive double centuries in Sheffield Shield and might just be Tim Paine's trump card in series. Moreover, squad also includes Marnus Labuschagne, who was in sublime form, just before COVID break and squad's pace attack looks as strong as ever. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, and Sean Abbott will give it everything to earn mselves a spot in playing XI.

READ | Australia Name Fiery Will Pucovski, Cameron Green In 17-man Squad For Test Series Vs India

What's on line?

As India and Australia lock horns in pure whites in December, it will t just be about Australia's vengeance or India's desire to write history, and r will it be about winning Border Gavaskar Trophy. Because this time, re's something much bigger on line - World Test Championship. India currently sits atop World Test Championship with 360 points whereas Australia is just below Men in Blue with 296 points. teams also face challenge of COVID-19 and taxing bio-bubble which is expected to take a toll on players. 

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