IND vs AUS: Ravi Shastri Hits Back At Ricky Ponting's Prediction of Australia Beating India in BGT

Former Indian Head Coach Ravi Shastri feels India is capable of getting a hattrick of test series wins in Australia after Ricky Ponting made claims that India will lose the series to the Aussies by a margin of 3-1. Shastri feels that with the bowling and batting line up India have, India can defeat the Aussies in a third straight test series to once again bring home the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 

India loaded with the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami could hand another defeat to the Australians. 

Ravi Shastri Believes India Will Win

India have been winning the Border-Gavaskar trophy ever since Australia last won it in 2015. 

"With (Jasprit) Bumrah fit, (Mohammed) Shami fit, you've got Mohammed Siraj there. You've got the likes of (Ravinchandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja and some very good bench strength as well... One can't wait for that series to start and (I think) India can do the hat-trick (of series victories in Australia). It is going to be one heck of a series and India have every chance of making it a hat-trick because they've got their bowlers fit and if they can bat well, they can tickle (beat) Australia once again." Ravi Shastri said when speaking to ICC. 

India Have Not Handed Over The Border-Gavaskar Trophy In Almost A Decade 

Shastri believes that Australia would be hungry to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar trophy. 

"The Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia over five Test matches is going to be a humdinger. Remember, India have beaten Australia twice on the last two tours and Australia have not had a hand on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in almost a decade and that's the reason why everyone will be waiting for these two heavyweights of Test match cricket over the last five to eight years to go head-to-head. We know what Australia will be wanting (revenge). They will be thirsty, they'd be looking to go at the throats of the Indians because they've been beaten there (in Australia) twice. The attack is pretty much the same. One of the greatest fast bowling attacks -- (one of the greatest) all-round attacks when you add Nathan Lyon there -– in a long, long time. And one of the best in the history of the game. They'll be looking for those 20 wickets, game after game to help Australia win the series." "It's going to be India's batting against the Australian fast bowlers. And of course, the Indian bowling attack is going to be something everyone will be waiting to see," added Ravi Shastri. 

It will be a tough task for both teams as both bring some world-class players to the table and will do their best to win the test series in Australia.