Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell is supporting the Baggy Greens ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 match between Australia and the hosts India and is of the firm belief that the visitors will fancy their chances of outplaying the formidable Indian side in their home stadium.
Even without former captain Virat Kohli, an injury-plagued Indian team led by Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma, and Cheteshwar Pujara defeated Australia in the decisive Test series match at The Gabba to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the 2020–21 campaign.
Chappell believes that India will have an advantage over the visitors if the home team can keep Steve Smith and Nathon Lyon quiet during the Test series, as Australia prepares for one of its biggest foreign tests in the second edition of the ICC World Test Championship.
The only current Australian in the team to average above 30 against the Rohit Sharma-led team in India is Superstar Smith. Lyon has played seven Test matches in India and has a 30.58 average versus the Asian powerhouses. 34 wickets have been taken in India by the seasoned Australian spinner.
Greg Chappell wrote on ESPN Cricinfo, “One of the main tasks for Indian players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Cheteshwar Pujara will be to establish mental superiority over Lyon. If Australia can’t rely on Lyon claiming regular wickets at an acceptable rate, their bowling will then depend greatly on the ‘big three’.”
Additionally, Chappell stated that the Rohit-led team is strong and “nearly impossible” to defeat at home. India, who finished second in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship, last suffered a home series defeat to England (2-1) in 2012.
He added, “The main task for India’s bowlers will be to find a way to keep the heavy-scoring Smith quiet. If India can limit Smith and Lyon’s success they will be on the way to winning matches.”
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India will host Australia in four Test matches at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2023. On February 9, the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur will host the first game of the series. In the year of the World Cup, the Rohit-led Team India will also play a three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Australia.
