4 Reasons why Team India can win their first test series down under

When it comes to cricket, there aren’t many rivalries as fierce as the one between India and Australia. The two teams have battled for test supremacy for so many years and their battles have been memorable on quite many occasions!

One thing that has been common amongst these gigantic test playing nations is the amount of talent on both sides. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Saurav Ganguly to the Australian legends like Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, the magnitude of talent has always been immense on either sides.

India and Australia have battled on 94 times in test cricket with Australia coming out on top on 41 occasions while team India winning on 26 times the rest 26 ending as a draw. With so many classic battles, the topic of India vs Australia can go on for ages but one sparkling thing to point here is that India has never won a test series in Australia. The Aussies have won on the Indian soil but team India has never won a test series down under.

With India’s tour to Australia just days away, it brings us to the most awaited test series of the year, commencing on December 6th. Optimism runs high in the Indian camp as they feel they can finally fulfil their motive of reigning supreme on the Australian soil. Here we list down a few reasons why India might win their first ever test series in Australia this time around.

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#4 Major absentees

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If you had asked a year ago who are the best batsmen in this Australian side! Who are the true leaders on the field? Who gives the Aussies that x-factor? Then the answer would’ve been straight and simple in the form of Steve Smith and David Warner.

Smith’s devastating form is best explained by him being the #1 ranked test batsman for a long time this year despite being banned for numerous months. Steve Smith has proved to be one of the greatest batsmen of his generation and has been the solid one who controls the tempo of the game for Australia. As for David Warner, the man is an absolutely dominant force who takes the game to the opposition with his dynamic batting prowess.

With Smith and Warner no available, Cricket Australia has a major role to fill in order to challenge the Indian side.

#3 India is the #1 ranked test side

Indian Test team will surely fancy their chances this time around

Team India is the #1 ranked side in the ICC test rankings and have deservingly earned their place at the top. The subcontinent giants have won 12 of the last 14 series and have been pretty impressive on their way to the pinnacle of test rankings.

Nation after nation, team India have battered opponents with ease. Virat Kohli and his men have proved to be the best in the world and with their current squad comprising of genuine world-class players in each department, team India is the team to beat in the longest form of the game.

Australia play their first home series since the ball-tampering fiasco which resulted in Steve Smith and David Warner getting banned for a year. This is no secret that the Australian team lack leaders, which was quite evident in their recent test series against Pakistan which they lost 0-1.

With Australia vulnerable, this seems India’s best shot at winning a test series in Australia.

#2 Indian Batsmen are on a roll

England v India: Specsavers 4th Test - Day Two

India have the best batting lineup, period. Virat Kohli, India’s captain has been in tremendous form scoring runs for fun and is a major reason for India’s position at the top. Apart from Kohli, the Indian brigade comprises of young guns like KL Rahul and Rishab Pant who have impressed in Test cricket.

Kohli has been on a roll ever since he became India's Test captain and there has been no stopping the dashing batsman as he has already notched up 24 centuries in test cricket. The current world #1 in Test rankings for batsmen puts on a tremendous show and is the driving force behind India's success in test cricket. Apart from the skipper, Cheteshwar Pujara is yet another dominant force in the Indian lineup capable of taking the game away from the opponent.

The Australian pitches often prove to be tricky for any away side but this Indian side is made of a strong mettle and it won’t be surprising to see Kohli and his men smash Australian bowlers all around the park in their forthcoming test series.

#1 Team Australia Lacks Flair

South Africa v Australia - 3rd Test: Day 4

This might be the first time in over three decades that Australia isn’t the favourites at home. The fact is surprising but it is true! Australians lack confidence, they lack fire and they are in a sort of transition period. Facing the #1 ranked side might turn out to be a tough job this Australian. The team's current form and the squad doesn't really put any solid arguments in their favour.

When we look at the Indian side, then names like Virat Kohli, Cheteshwara Pujara and Ravichandran Ashwin pop up as the men who strike fear in the opposition camp whereas the Australian side doesn't possess anyone like that.

There was a time when the Australian side was led by men like Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Allan Border to name a few, men who made Australia a fearsome side, a side who was ruthless, a side who possessed an unmatched dominance at home.

Sadly, after the infamous ball tampering fiasco, things have looked bleak for the world champions and with the test series approaching, the bets are on Team India to win their first test series in Australia. A new era might be on its way!