Going against Australia fully aware of their strengths, weaknesses: Kohli

Despite the 2-0 scoreline in their favour going into the third and final Test, India – and Kohli in particular – hadn’t had things all their own way in the home series against New Zealand. Their record after the 9 Tests this season stands at 8 wins and a draw.

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly and veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh have both forecast a clean sweep for the hosts when the arch rivals begin their four-Test series on Thursday in Pune. Starc and Kohli have played together for the Bangalore franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament and the paceman will be key to Australia’s hopes of success in their four-test series against the world’s top-ranked team. It will be the first Test in the city of Professor DB Deodhar, the Grand Old Man of Indian cricket. There is no higher or lower in the order. In addition to these three players’ consistent performance, the support from batsmen such as opener Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara will play a crucial factor. He has notched up 1168 Test runs in one season, a first by any batsman at home.

Smith, just like his teammates have done over the last week since arriving in India for the challenging tour, put up as fearless a front as a visiting captain can. Considering the fact that they are in, the off-spinner and left-arm spinner duo has every reason to believe it can surpass its combined tally of 53 wickets during Australia’s last Test series in India in 2013. Matt Renshaw could keep Usman Khawaja out, as the left-hander sat out the warm-up game in Mumbai. Smith said his team were motivated to make that record better.

He also didn’t bowl until the 69th over of India A’s innings. All teams we had played were good quality teams. As the best player of spin in the side the onus will be on him to inspire his players and his countering the wiles of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja could be one of the sights of the series. All up, two changes are likely from the side that beat Pakistan at the SCG last month: the Marsh brothers, Shaun and Mitchell, both in at the expense of Khawaja and Hilton Cartwright.

“You tend to focus a lot more on certain situations which you might or might not without the extra responsibility on your shoulders and may play a loose shot”, he added. They are the best batsmen in Test cricket right now, and anyone else is just too far behind them to offer any substantial competition; at least on the points table for batsmen in Test cricket. Jayant Yadav’s presence at No. 9 not only beefs up the batting, but also completes a risky spin troika. Of their past 20 home Tests, India have won 17 and drawn three.

“You try and take wickets in other ways”. Thier ‘keeper Matthew Wade felt, “It’s definitely tougher in India“. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are expected to spearhead the pace attack, which means Jackson Bird will miss out.

Meanwhile, Steve O’Keefe could yet usurp Nathan Lyon. Batsmen like Steve Smith, David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh can be unsafe even in Indian conditions if they get a good start and get their eye in.