There is a lot of anticipation around India’s tour Down Under later this year, where Virat Kohli and company will face Australia in four Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is.

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Just like the fans, former Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis reckons is also excited for the series as he believes both sides have some great performers in their ranks.

Under Kohli’s leadership, India won their maiden Test series on Australian soil in 2018-19 but Steve Smith, David Warner were serving their 12-month ball-tampering ban at that time.

According to Waqar, the return of Smith, Warner and India’s rapidly grown pace battery will make it a hotly-contested series this time around.

"Australia are playing at home and have developed a good pace attack and with David Warner and Steve Smith back they appear to be very strong but India also has some good pace bowlers who have come up rapidly and they bowled well on their last tour to Australia," Waqar told a YouTube channel, as quoted by PTI.

"The Indian batting is also pretty impressive with some notable test performers like Pujara and Rahane so I expect good contests."

Waqar also opined that the absence of Virat Kohli after the first Test in Adelaide and Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma missing at least the first two Tests will make India’s chances of winning the series difficult.

Kohli will be on paternity leave after the Test series opener, while Rohit and Ishant are yet to recover from their respective injuries and will join only the squad after second Test.

"Rohit is a top act while Ishant has a lot of experience and wickets behind him and they can't make it for the Test matches,  India will feel their absence," Waqar said.

(With PTI inputs)