'That’s my gut feeling': Adam Gilchrist makes bold prediction for India vs Australia Tests

Former Australia skipper Adam Gilchrist has made a bold prediction for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Test series), which is scheduled to be played in India in February-March. Gilchrist believes that Australia have a chance to win their first Test series in India since 2004. Gilchrist said Australia have got a squad and final XI that will have a lot of similarities to the team that played in 2004. Gilchrist was the stand-in captain of the Australian team that won the Test series in India 19 years ago. 

Gilchrist thinks Australia might beat India in Test series

"What we tried to change with our mentality back then – and I’d be interested to see if the Australians do it this time – is don’t go searching and just rolling spinners out there. Attack the stumps right from ball one. Swallow your pride a bit, be defensive to be aggressive. Start with one slip, start with a catching mid-wicket, put fielders out on the boundary to nullify the boundary option, but keep a couple of catchers in place – either at short cover or short mid-wicket – and just be patient," Gilchrist told Fox Sports.

"I think they’ll do it (win the series). I really do. I think they’ve got a squad and final XI that will have a lot of similarities to the team we rolled with in 2004. So often teams go to India hoping to unveil some new spinner that’s going to come in and adapt and bedazzle in India — it doesn’t really happen. Pick your best four bowlers, run with them — and if that is three seamers who can all get really nice reserve swing and Nathan Lyon, who’s outstanding and clearly the best off-spinner we’ve ever had, can play his role — that’s my gut feeling. You do that, you go with it," he added. 

Prior to 2004, Australia's last Test series triumph in India was in 1969. Since 2004, Australia and India have played 4 Test series in the subcontinent, all of which have ended in defeat for the Kangaroos. Apart from that, India have even managed to win the last two red-ball series on Australian soil, rubbing more salt in their wounds. Australia now have a pretty good chance of taking revenge on India during the four-match series, starting February 9. 

India vs Australia

India’s Test squad for the first two Tests against Australia: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.

Image: cricket.com.au