Ranking Prediction 'Border-Gavaskar' Trophy: What happens if India loses the Test series 0-4? 

After the shared T20 international series, the focus now shifts to the longest format of the game. This format has always been the centre stage of an India tour of Australia. There is something special about Test matches played in Australia - they are action-packed, hard fought, competitive, and entertaining.

For any visiting side, a test series in Australia serves as the litmus test to assess themselves. For India or any team, the Test series scoreline decides how successful the tour of Australia has been.

In 2011, India toured Australia and was hammered 4-0 in the Test series. Again in 2014, India with a hope of winning the series in Australia managed to draw 2 Tests and lost the series 2-0. The time has come for yet another gruelling series down under.

The Virat Kohli led team India is bold and fearless. For the first time, India's pace battery looks equally potent to the Australian attack. On the personal front, Virat Kohli has made Australia his second home.

He is the leading run scorer for India in the last 2 Test series in Australia. He would love to emulate his feats of 2011 and 2014 on the Australian soil.

Moreover, the absence of stalwarts in Steve Smith and David Warner- the Australian batting unit looks brittle. It also serves Team India a wonderful and rare opportunity to capitalize and win a Test series in Australia. The ICC powered team Rankings predictor is an algorithm that works on the basis of Team Rankings rating method.

Here is how fruitful or worse the series for India can turn out to be.

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Scenario 1

Even though the current Australian team appears weak on the paper but a home side is always the favourite when it comes to winning the series. Without Steve Smith and Warner, the team has struggled in leadership aspect as well as the experience factor but you never know. All it takes is one good match to get the confidence flowing.

If Australia wins the series 3-1, which looks like the possible outcome, then Australia gains few rating points to jump to 3rd position in the table.

India, on the other hand, loses 5 rating points but holds on to its top position with 111 points- irrespective of the series results in the ongoing New Zealand -Pakistan series and the upcoming New Zealand- Sri Lanka series.

Scenario 2

The determined Indian team is here to win the series at all costs. In contrast to scenario 1, if Team India wins the series 3-1, it strengthens its position at the top with 118 Rating points.

Assuming that Pakistan wins the ongoing series against New Zealand in UAE, Australia will be badly hurt as they slip to the sixth spot with 100 rating points and Pakistan occupies the fifth spot in the rankings table.

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Scenario 3

Going by the ongoing weather pattern in Australia, it won't be a surprise if the matches get delayed or stopped due to rain. When few sessions get washed out, there comes a possibility of Draw.

In that case, if the hosts manage to win the series 2-1, then it turns out to be a good result for the Aussies as they climb one spot up in the rankings table from the fifth position. For India, there is no shuffle in the places but their rating points reduce to 112 from 114 before the series.

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Scenario 4

Going by scenario 3, assuming there will be one draw match in the series and India wins the series 2-1, then Team India stay at No.1 with the 116 rating points from earlier 114 points.

For Australia too, there won't be any major gains or losses as they stay at fifth position with one less rating point at 101. The above possibility is again considering the fact that Pakistan will win the ongoing series against New Zealand.

Scenario 5

The main problem with team India touring Australia for the Test series is their inability to adapt to the conditions and the unfortunate injuries to the fast bowlers. No matter how prepared Team India appears before the series, Australia somehow exploits the weaknesses of Indian batsmen and run away with the game.

Going by the same logic, if Australia manages to whitewash India 4-0, then it moves to Number 1 position in the ICC MRF Test Team rankings from the fifth position. That will be some achievement by the Australians to dethrone India from the top spot. As one would expect, this kind of an outcome will hurt India very bad as they sink to the fourth position with 108 rating points.

If New Zealand manages to win series 2-1 in the UAE as well as the home series against Sri Lanka 2-0, then New Zealand shoots to second place with 109 rating points leaving England and India behind at 3rd and 4th place respectively.

On the contrary, if Pakistan wins the series 2-1 in UAE, India manages to stay at third position equalling England's 108 points.

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Scenario 6

CXI v India - International 4-Day Tour Match: Day 4

Coming to the last scenario and a highly unlikely one, wherein Team India whitewashes Australia. A visiting team whitewashing Australia at home is an unheard thing. But, if it happens by any chance then India dominates the rankings staying at the topmost position with 120 rating points from 114.

Considering Pakistan wins the series at UAE and New Zealand wins 2-0 at home against Sri Lanka, this will hurt Australia real bad as they drop to the sixth position with 97 rating points from 102. And to recover from there would be an uphill task for a team which is struggling to find its combinations right.

So buckle up your seatbelts, the journey throughout the four-match series is going to be exciting. Back your team and enjoy the competitive cricket.

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