Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has backed the team to continue their dominance over Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and beat them in the upcoming tour Down Under.
The Indian cricket team will travel to Australia for five Test matches later this year. The eagerly-awaited series is slated to get underway on November 22 in Perth.
India have won the last two Test series on Australian soil, while they have held onto the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy since March 2017.
"The Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia over five Test matches is going to be a humdinger," Shastri said while speaking on The ICC Review.
"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.
"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."
Shastri was at the helm of affairs when India won the Test series in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21. He believes the hosts will be determined to make a turnaround this time around.
"We know what Australia will be wanting (revenge)," Shastri stated. "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."
Shastri is excited for a number of one-on-one battles between the world's best throughout the series and believes the team that wins more of these head-to-head encounters will eventually emerge victorious.
"It's going to be India's batting against the Australian fast bowlers," Shastri suggested. "And of course, the Indian bowling attack is going to be something everyone will be waiting to see.
"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)."
The team that claims the Border-Gavaskar Trophy could be well poised to earn a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s next year. India are currently heading the points table, following by the reigning champions Australia.
(With ICC Inputs)
