Shastri predicts key players in upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy

The two pacesetters of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship are scheduled to do battle over five Test matches in Australia from November 22 and the outcome of the series will be pivotal as to which sides reach next year's final at Lord's.

Speaking with host Sanjana Ganesan on the most recent episode of The ICC Review, the India legend Shastri picked two players from Australia and India each whom he opined could be game-changers for their respective sides.

When asked about the India player who’d turn out to be the X-factor for the side, Shastri backed young southpaw opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.

“Jaiswal at the top because if he gets in, he can be devastating,” Shastri went on to laud the youngster’s spin-playing ability and scoring rate.

“You know he plays spin very well, he plays at his own tempo, he's got all the shots in the book.”

Shastri referred to Jaiswal’s back-to-back double hundreds (209 and 214* against England in Vizag and Rajkot) to showcase that the youngster had the hunger to do well in big games.

Yashasvi Jaiswal's exploits from the U19 World Cup

“He's an entertainer so if he gets in as we've seen in his career already you know he has the ability to get the big scores. You don't hit two consecutive double hundreds you know just like that, you've got to have the hunger you have to have the quality and the ability," Shastri noted.

Moving towards the bowling component, Shastri had little hesitation in picking India’s vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah as the player who will lead the charge during the series.

Bumrah has 32 Test wickets against Australia at an average of merely 21.25 and Shastri thinks the pace spearhead can continue to perform well Down Under.

“I think Jasprit, no question,” Shastri said. “Because he's the best fast bowler in the world. There's no question about that. And likewise for Australia, will be (Pat) Cummins (who will dominate).”

Jasprit Bumrah magic in this year's T20 World Cup

Bumrah has had a standout year, having already delivered a tournament-winning spell in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Final against South Africa, and the former India coach believed that the pacer, being at the height of his powers, would be the man for India.

“These are the top two bowlers who are on either side. And you'd expect him at this stage of his career, where at times he makes the ball talk, to be the highest wicket-taker," Shastri said of Bumrah.

On the other end of the spectrum, Shastri picked Australia skipper Cummins as the player who would be the most formidable challenge with the ball for his former side, while adding that India should not underestimate experienced spinner Nathan Lyon.

Pat Cummins at his very best during Australia's triumph in the Men's World Cup final 2023

“Pat Cummins will be at you. He's relentless. I mean, don't take your eye off Nathan Lyon because he has a fantastic record against India, both at home and away," Shastri said.

“So he'll be someone to watch but Pat Cummins, because if Australia have to damage early doors and then later on, it will be Cummins.”

Cummins, who featured in all eight Tests of the previous two Border-Gavaskar series at home, averages 23.14 for his 35 wickets against India Down Under.

Lyon on the other hand, has 60 scalps from 15 games against India at home.

Australia batter Steve Smith who had a brilliant average of more than 60 for a number of years in Test cricket, has endured a lean run over the last year.

Since his century against England at Lord’s in July 2023, the veteran batter has averaged 33.64 with the bat in 10 games.

Steve Smith's milestone in the WTC23 Final against India

However this didn’t mean much to Shastri, who backed the Australia star’s class and picked the right-hander as the batter India needed to be wary of.

“Steve Smith because of his experience, because of his past record and he's at that stage of his career where he needs a challenge,” Shastri said when speaking of Smith.

“He needs a challenge and I think he'll be up for it. It could be his final series against India, so that's another way to look at it. And just seeing his form in that couple of games against Pakistan makes me think in that fashion.”

Smith, who made a hundred in his last Test against India, a match-winning 121 in the World Test Championship final last year, had good starts in his two appearances in the recent ODI series against Pakistan, scoring 44 and 35.

“He looked good. He had time, he got into good positions to play shots,” Shastri went on to compare Smith’s position to India veteran Virat Kohli.

“And it's again, with these players, the Kohlis, the Smiths, it's how you start.

“In the first three innings of the series, if he gets away with 100, then they'll keep badgering you.”

“I think India will have to come hard, they'll have to be tight and they'll have to keep the pressure on. They have to be relentless with Smith early.”