Not Virat Kohli but Usman Khawaja will be the highest run-getter in the Test series, says Ricky Ponting

In a bid to step up its preparation for grueling Test series, Indian cricket team played a practice match against Cricket Australia XI at Sydney Cricket ground on Wednesday.

Kohli is expected to be spearhead of an Indian team aiming to win its first ever Test series in Australia. While history is on  side of hosts, recent developments suggest visitors have a great chance to create history.

Australian team will be without ir star batsmen Steven Smith and David Warner, both serving ir respective one-year ban for ir role in ball tampering saga earlier this year against South Africa.

Many crticis and pundits have predicted that ir absence has given India an upper hand, but Australian great Ricky Ponting has revealed if re is one man who can give Men In Blue a run for ir money that is Usman Khawaja.

former Australian skipper has even made an interesting predication saying Usman Khawaja will be highest run-getter and also Player of series despite kwing outstanding form Virat Kohli currently is in.

Lavishing praise on Khawaja, Ponting told cricket.com.au: "He's on top of his game, his record in Australia is outstanding. "As much of a threat that Indian fast bowlers might pose, I think he's got a game that can cope with it here in Australia."

"I'm going with him to be leading run scorer and man of series. Right w he's in a really good place, selectors backed him through that UAE tour, gave him a chance and he came out (better) on or side of that. "With skill that he's got and maybe a bit more belief in his own game than ever before, I think he's got perfect pack to have a great summer."

Usman Khwaja has proved to be shining light for Australia despite troubled times y are facing. left-handed batsman has scored 562 runs which includes two centuries at a strike rate of 47.28. Though, highlight of his year has been his heroic effort of 151 runs against Pakistan which helped Australia escape with a draw in second Test.

Ricky Ponting's comments comes based on pitch conditions in Adelaide and Perth. Even though Kohli scored four centuries piling 692 runs at 86.50 during last tour, Ponting feels that Indian skipper could be vulnerable to  conditions this time out.

 "Kohli will play well I'm sure because he does everywhere he goes and had a great series against Australia last time. Just where y're starting in Adelaide and Perth – if y leave something in m, Kohli is a bit more vulnerable in those conditions than Melbourne and Sydney.