India's Tour of Australia - 2018-19 - precursor

For an Indian cricket fan, the most imp. Foreign tour is India's tour to Australia. Over the years this tour has tested Indian cricket teams. I will not be wrong if I say that if a particular player does well on this tour, his career is on fast track. Who can forget Ishant's firely spell to Ricky ponting on India's famous tour to Australia in 2007-08. Irfan Pathan also made his debut and made an impact in India's 2003-04 tour. Rohit Sharma also shone in CB series cricket in 2008. The list can go on and on.

Every time the Indian team travel downunder, there is always a hope that India will win a test series here, this time is also not an exception. However, the best result for India in recent past is India's tour to Australia in 2003-04, where India led by Sourav Ganguly managed to draw the series with 1-1 and retain the Border Gavaskar trophy. In all other tours, India have lost the series. Hence, there is something each Indian team which has toured Australia misses while preparing for the tour. Let's hope that the team led by Virat Kohli does learn to adapt quickly and manage to win the test series.

Coming to the white ball cricket, India must fancy her chances this time around. The Australian team is not even 50% strong what is used to be some years ago. Aussies play hard cricket, no doubt about it, however, the difference in the skills / talent  / experience is vast between the two teams. Aussies have a new captain (may not be obvious choice, but made for the sake of it) and he his trying to know his team. Some players are still finding their feet in the International arena (say alex carey / D arcy short / billy stanlake etc.) Some players have been awefully out of form and want to make impact on the international stage (glenn maxwell / marcus stoinis / nathan courter-nile / adam zampa). On the other side, India is on rampage. The top 3 Indian batsman are most dangerous trio  in the world currently. As they say, if Virat can't then Rohit can. Most of the time either Rohit or Virat ensures that one of them bats for the major part of the innings in 50 over / 20 over match. India does have some middle order issues, but the players like ambati rayudu / dinesh karthik /rishabh pant have responded to the opportunity. Lokesh Rahul is a kind of the batsman we all know. He needs to be consistent. India's bowling attack is as deadly as it can get with Bumrah / Bhuvi and Khaleel doing well. The pacers are ably supported by spin twins. Krunal pandya has also made use of the opportunity provided to him against Windies.

Hence, currently, India surely start as favourites in T20 and 50 over series and dare I say for tests as well. For me the defining factor is how quickly Indians adapt to the Australian bounce and pace.

This is the best chance Virat Kohli's man have to write the history.

As a typical Indian fan I wish this time we retain the Border Gavaskar trophy.

Cheers!!