Australia’s much-awaited Test challenge on Indian soil is all set to get underway on February 9 in Nagpur. The series will be crucial in determining the top two spots in the World Test Championship.

Since Australia have historically struggled on the Test tour of India, many cricket experts believe that the Pat Cummins-led side should have played tour games leading up to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023.

However, star batter Steve Smith has supported Australia’s decision of not playing tour games, saying that the team is better of training on its own as the pitches prepared for tour fixtures and actual matches in India are very different.

Reacting to Smith’s comments, veteran India off-spinner R Ashwin said nobody plans these things before adding that the Aussies are known for their mind games before a big series.

"Australia are not playing any tour matches this time. This is not new. Even India avoids tour games when they go on a few overseas tours. Since Team India's schedule is packed with international games, it is not possible to turn up for practice games with the same intensity,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

"Smith said, 'We got a green wicket in Brabourne and a completely opposite one in the first Test (during the 2017 series). In all fairness, it was a rank-turner in Pune. We might have given them a green track, but nobody plans all these things. However, Australia are known for its mind games and sledges before a series. They love doing that. It's their style of cricket," he added.

Meanwhile, the Australian cricket team is gearing up for a spin-friendly surface for the Test series as its board roped in Maheesh Pithiya, whose bowling action resembles Ashwin, as their net bowler for the India tour.