India and Australia set to battle it out; Border-Gavaskar trophy first Test begins in Perth tomorrow

PERTH: India and Australia are set to battle it out for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a contest often considered as intense as, or even a step above, the Ashes in Test cricket. The five-match series begins tomorrow at the Optus Stadium in Perth. While India has triumphed on their last two tours to Australia, securing the coveted trophy each time, the current series presents a different challenge.

India arrives in Australia on the back of a significant setback, having lost a Test series at home for the first time in 12 years. The sting of being whitewashed in a three-match series on home soil is still fresh. While Indian pitches, known for their bounce and spin, have traditionally posed problems for visiting teams, this time, those same conditions have worked against India. To qualify for the World Test Championship final for a third consecutive time, India will need to produce one of their finest performances in Australian conditions.

At the start of the New Zealand series, fans hoped that a clean sweep would ensure a final berth. However, India now faces a tougher road, needing at least a 3-1 win in Australia to qualify outright, without relying on other teams' results.

India will begin the series without their regular captain, Rohit Sharma, who is in Mumbai with his family following the birth of his second child. He is expected to return for the second Test in Adelaide on December 6th. In Rohit's absence, Jasprit Bumrah will captain the side. The fast and bouncy Australian pitches are not ideal for Indian batsmen and considering the current form of the team, the challenge will be formidable.

Shubman Gill, initially set to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal, is sidelined with injury. If he is unable to play, KL Rahul is likely to take the opening spot. Virat Kohli, still struggling for form, is expected to bat at number four, while Karnataka's Malayali player, Devdutt Padikkal, could step in at number three.

Australia has traditionally been one of Rishabh Pant's favorite venues and this will be Sarfaraz Khan's first tour down under. Dhruv Jural, who impressed during India A's tour of Australia, could also get a chance to feature in the playing XI. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is another possible inclusion. With spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja likely to feature, there is also the option of including Washington Sundar, known for his ability with both bat and ball. The challenge remains in selecting three spinners for the same match.