Ravi Shastri predicts outcome of Border-Gavaskar series

The ICC Review Podcast: Ponting's bold Border-Gavaskar prediction

India great Ravi Shastri is tipping his former side to continue their recent dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and defeat Australia in the eagerly-awaited upcoming series between the two Test nations.

India have won the last two Test series Down Under and have held onto the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy since Australia claimed a 2-0 series triumph on home soil at the start of 2015.

While Australia gained some revenge over their rivals when they defeated India in the ICC World Test Championship final at The Oval last year, Shastri knows Pat Cummins' side will be keen to re-claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy when the two teams meet Down Under for a five-match series that commences in November.

Australia legend Ricky Ponting predicted a 3-1 series scoreline to his former side when speaking recently on The ICC Review and Shastri has taken his turn to have his say ahead of the crucial World Test Championship series.

Batting the key for India

While India won the most recent Test series in Australia 2-1 under the watchful coaching eye of Shastri, their batting struggled at various stages of the tour and none more so than when they were skittled for just 36 in the second innings of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide.

India will be reliant on their experienced top-order that includes skipper Rohit Sharma and former captain Virat Kohli and Shastri believes their batters must fire if they want to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

"The Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia over five Test matches is going to be a humdinger," Shastri said.

"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."

Aussies out for revenge on home soil

Shastri knows Australia will be hurting after successive series defeats at home against India and expects them to come out breathing fire.

The first Test will be held in Perth and Shastri thinks Australia's strong fast bowling line-up will be relishing the opportunity to take on India's batters across the five-match series.

"We know what Australia will be wanting (revenge)," Shastri noted.

"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."

Mouth-watering match-ups on the field

Shastri is expecting a host of one-on-one battles between the world's best to play out throughout the series and believes the team that will come out trumps will be the one that wins more of these head-to-head encounters.

"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)."