Sunil Gavaskar has predicted a 3-1 series win for India in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT 2024) against Australia. India is set to play five Tests in Australia for the first time since 1991-92 in what is expected to be a blockbuster series later this year.
Australia has already begun preparing for the task, with captain Pat Cummins foregoing a white-ball tour of the United Kingdom to focus on his fitness for the next difficulties.
Sunil Gavaskar believes Australia's batting is questionable, and India would attempt to exploit that vulnerability during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The Test series will be the first without Australia's batting legend David Warner, who retired earlier this year. The current world Test champions will be looking to find a reliable combination of hitters who can get them off to a good start, but replacing someone like Warner is tougher said than done.
“With their opening batting problems exacerbated after the retirement of David Warner and the middle-order also a bit dodgy, the Aussies are ripe for the taking once again,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for the mid-day.
Gavaskar reiterated the absence of a “proper first-class” game during the tour and reckons it could hamper the Indian team.
“India being usual slow starters in an overseas series in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries the first Test will be crucial. That they aren’t playing proper first-class games before that as well as in the week-long gaps between some Test matches could work against them,” Gavaskar stated.
Gavaskar admitted that the congested cricket calendar makes it tough to squeeze in a few practice games, but it has an impact on novice batsmen, giving Yashasvi Jaiswal as an example.
"That said, it is how schedules are nowadays for most touring sides. It is tough on inexperienced newcomers as Yashasvi Jaiswal found in South Africa last year. He came back brilliantly with over 700 runs against England at home,” Gavaskar wrote.
However, Gavaskar has still backed India to win the Test series 3-1.
“It’s going to be an exciting series for sure with the talent that is there on both sides and it will also show why Test match cricket is the ultimate format of our beloved game. Oh, and my prediction is a 3-1 win for India,” he concluded.
