IND vs AUS, 1st Test: Preview, Prediction and Fantasy Tips

India vs Australia 1st Test Preview [Twitter]

The inaugural match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, 2023, between India and Australia is slated to get underway on Thursday, February 9 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. The high-octane clash will serve as the opening salvo in the Australia tour of India, 2023, which comprises a rigorous four-test series, and a three-match ODI series, set to test the mettle of both teams.

India have been powering through practice sessions and have added plenty of spin bowling options to their net bowling arsenal. The likes of Rahul Chahar, Sai Kishore, Washington Sundar, and Saurabh Kumar, to name a few, and the questions regarding the state of the wicket for the opening match of the series have been put to bed with reports of arid conditions at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.

The Australian contingent touched down in Bengaluru earlier this month, commencing their preparations for the upcoming series against India in Alur, a training camp organized by the National Cricket Academy. 

In an effort to counteract India's leading spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, the visitors resorted to hiring an impersonator to mimic his style. However, with only just a few days to acclimate themselves to the conditions in India, the question remains whether this strategy will be successful or counterproductive.

As the first test match approaches, both India and Australia are grappling with a number of injury setbacks within their respective squads. India will have to make do without the contributions of Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and their leading speedster Jasprit Bumrah, while the Australian side will be taking the field without their main pacers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Despite the absence of some prominent names, the series opening promises to be an enthralling contest between the two cricketing giants.

Match Details

Date & Time: February 9, 9:30 AM IST

Venue: Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

Live Telecast & Streaming: Star Sports Network & Disney+Hotstar

Pitch Report :In the past, the pitches at VCA Stadium have had a tendency for aiding quicker bowlers, but primarily have proven to be a spinner's paradise, in line with the majority of the tracks across the country. While the batsmen have found run-making to be a relatively uncomplicated task during the early stages of the match, the searing heat has come into play, allowing the spin bowlers to assert their superiority. 

As per initial reports, the pitch is said to be sparsely covered with a hint of grass, yet appears parched underneath which means spinners will have a major say as the game progresses.

Predicted Playing XI

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat (wk), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami

Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey (wk), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (c), Lance Morris, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon

Key battles

• Virat Kohli vs Pat Cummins: 82 Runs, Five Dismissals, Average: 16.4
• David Warner vs R Ashwin: 182 Runs, Ten Dismissals, Average: 18.2
• Steve Smith vs R Ashwin: 412 Runs, Six Dismissals, Average: 68.7

Prediction

India are favorites to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener as they are playing at home and are well acquainted with the conditions.

Also Read: Got Steve Smith out 6 times on the first day of camp: Mahesh Pithiya