Australia vs India 2018-19: 5 player battles that can decide the Test series

India and Australia will be at loggerheads in the Border-Gavaskar trophy which commences on 6th December. The teams will renew their rivalry in the first Test which will be played at Adelaide.

While the Indian team comes to Australia as the number one ranked Test side, the current Australian side looks like a pale shadow of the once unbeatable Australian team. On paper India looks like a stronger side and even though India starts the series as the favourites, Australia can never be written off, especially playing at home. The Australian bowling attack is still one of the best in the world and will pose a major threat to the fragile and under-confident Indian batting line-up.

Also, there will be some crucial one-to-one battles between players from both sides. Players who succeed in these individual battles will ultimately have a huge impact on the final result of the series.

Here are the five player battles which will have a huge impact on the final outcome of the Test series.

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#5 Shaun Marsh vs Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin will target the left-handers in the Australian side

After a mediocre series against England, Ashwin got back into his groove against West Indies. Even though Australian pitches aren't conducive for spin-bowling, Ashwin is well equipped to trouble the Australians. Moreover, with so many left-handed batsmen in the Australian side, the ace spinner will be smelling blood when he gets the red cherry in his hand.

One of these left-handed batsmen is Shaun Marsh. In the absence of Smith and Warner, Marsh is the most experienced batsman in the Australian side. And even though he looked awfully out of touch against Pakistan in U.A.E, Marsh will hold the key for the Australian middle-order. He struggles against off-spinners and Ashwin will look to exploit that.

#4 KL Rahul vs Josh Hazlewood

Hazlewood has an excellent record against India

One Indian player whose performance will be under scanner throughout the Test series will be KL Rahul. The immensely talented opener has flattened to deceive at more occasions than one. After having a disappointing series against England, Rahul struggled against a not-so-strong Windies bowling attack. And even though the Indian team management continues to support the Karnataka batsman, he will know that a slip up in Australia might have a telling effect on his Test career.

One bowler who will target Rahul will be Josh Hazlewood. The right-arm seamer, who has often drawn comparisons with Glenn McGrath, missed the series against Pakistan as he was recovering from a stress injury. His immaculate line and length bowling might cause problems for the inconsistent Rahul. Also, Hazlewood will have an added responsibility of being the vice-captain of the side which will inspire him to give his best.

#3 Cheteshwar Pujara vs Nathan Lyon

Lyon is a major threat on Australian pitches

While everyone is focusing on the pace battery of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, one bowler the Indian team cannot afford to take lightly is Nathan Lyon.

Nathan Lyon has been mighty successful in the recent past and has emerged as one of the leading spin bowlers in the world. The off spinner does his thing rather innocuously. He uses the angles and bounce to good effect and has proved his effectiveness on Australian pitches as well.

One Indian batsman who will have to do the task of taming Lyon will be Cheteshwar Pujara. Pujara is known for blunting bowling-attacks with his defensive technique and if he is successful in negotiating Lyon, it will be a huge dent in Australia's confidence as Lyon is one their most consistent performers. Also, Pujara is an excellent player of spin bowling thus building up an interesting duo between the two.

#2 Usman Khawaja vs Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah will be Kohli's go-to man

Jasprit Bumrah has grown in stature from the time he started playing Test cricket for India. Bumrah began his Test career in a magnificent fashion with some stunning bowling in South Africa and England. He seems to have all the ingredients of becoming a top-class Test bowler. The 24-year-old will be a handful in Australia. Pitches in Australia are known for their bounce and Bumrah has the ability to bowl in that corridor of uncertainty with awkward lengths for the batsmen.

Currently, Usman Khawaja is arguably Australia's best batsman. He played a sensational innings in the second innings of the first Test against Pakistan which helped Australia snatch draw from the jaws of defeat. Khawaja is expected to open the innings for Australia and will have the important task of seeing off the new ball. It will be interesting to see how the left-handed batsman tackles Bumrah.

#1 Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Starc

Starc's pace and Kohli's skills should make for an interesting battle

Virat Kohli versus Mitchell Starc is going to be the biggest battle in the Test series. While Kohli is the number one ranked Test batsman in the world, Starc is the most feared fast bowler at the moment.

The Indian captain has scored runs all over the world and will look to extend his purple patch in Australia too. Also, Kohli will have fond memories of playing down under as he was the most successful Indian batsman in India's tour in 2014-15. Kohli aggregated 692 runs in 4 matches at an average of 86.50 with four centuries.

Starc will have the responsibility to stop Kohli juggernaut. And he is well equipped to do so. Even though Starc had a below par series against Pakistan, he is lethal in Australian conditions and it will be a mouth watering clash between the two champions.