Ranking the current Indian batsmen by their Test average in Australia

After overseas series Test series defeat against South Africa and England in 2018, India are set to face yet another tough overseas assignment against Australia.

Australia are probably playing their weakest batting line-up for a long time in the absence of their star opener David Warner and their ex-skipper Steve Smith due to the ball-tampering saga. However, Australia still have one of the best bowling line-ups in Test cricket with the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins in the squad.

It would be up to the Indian batsmen to negotiate the pace trio (and Nathan Lyon!) and put runs on board for the Indian pacers to exert pressure on the inexperienced Australian batting.

India have gone in with 8 specialist batsmen and 2 wicket-keepers in the 18-man Test squad. While three players, teenage sensation Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant and Hanuma Vihari, would be playing a Test match on Australian soil for the very first time, other 7 batsmen have the experience of playing on the bouncy surfaces of Australia. 3 of them average 50+ down-under.

Here is ranking the Indian batsmen by their Test average in Australia.

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#7 Rohit Sharma

Average 28.83, Runs 173, Matches 3, Innings 6, 100s 0, 50s 1, HS 53

Rohit Sharma has struggled in the longest format in Australia

Rohit Sharma, who has been in and out of the Test squad and who was dropped from the South Africa series earlier this year after failing in 2 Tests, ranks at the bottom of this list.

He has been picked in the Indian squad because it is believed his backfoot play is suited for Australia. But ironically, he averages a lowly 28 in 6 innings in Australia scoring a solitary 50.

Although Hitman's place in the playing XI is not certain, when he gets an opportunity it would be interesting to see if he scores big.

#6 Parthiv Patel

Average 32, Runs 160, Matches 4, Innings 6, 100s 0, 50s 1, HS 62

Parthiv Patel made some handy contributions during the 2003-04 tour

Parthiv Patel, who made his Test debut in Australia in the successful trip in 2003-04, is back in the Test squad but this time as a backup wicket-keeper.

Patel, who had played some gritty knocks as an 18-year old back then, averages 32 in 6 innings with a best of 62. He can bat up the order in crisis situations as he has often done in the past.

His wicket-keeping and batting experience would definitely be handy for the Indian team to be successful down-under.

#5 KL Rahul

Average 32.5, Runs 130, Matches 2, Innings 4, 100s 1, 50s 0, HS 110

KL Rahul scored his maiden test ton in Australia

KL Rahul is next in this list with an average of 32.5 in 4 innings. Rahul, who had a forgetful debut in the boxing day Test match at Melbourne back in 2014, immediately impressed everyone with a masterful 100 in the next match at Sydney.

Although Rahul is competing for the opener's slot with other two openers, he would be eager to showcase his class when he gets an opportunity and better his overall numbers in Australia.

#4 Cheteshwar Pujara

Average 33.5, Runs 201, Matches 3, Innings 6, 100s 0, 50s 1, HS 73

India need Cheteshwar Pujara to hold the fort

Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been prolific in his Test career at home, has struggled in Australian conditions.

In 6 innings in Australia, he averages a paltry 33.5 with a best of 73. This batting average is certainly below-par for a player who thrives on technique and temperament.

If India are to perform better than they did last time around, they would want their number 3 to not only grind out the opposition bowling but to consistently score big runs.

#3 Ajinkya Rahane

Average 57, Runs 399, Matches 4, Innings 8, 100s 1, 50s 2, HS 147

Ajinkya Rahane will be looking to play aggressively

The Indian vice-captain has enjoyed batting in Australia and is one of the three current batsmen to average 50+ there. Ajinkya Rahane has a good average of 57 in 8 innings, scoring a hundred and 2 50s, with a best of 147 during the boxing day test at Melbourne in 2014. Rahane's game perfectly suits the Australian conditions as vindicated by his impressive strike rate of 63 which is the best among the current Indian batsmen in Australia.

#2 Murali Vijay

Average 60.25, Runs 482, Matches 4, Innings 8, 100s 1, 50s 4, HS 144

Murali Vijay has provided solid starts in the past

The experienced Indian opener has performed superbly in the past outings in Australia. He has scored close to 500 runs with an impressive average of 60. In 8 innings, he has crossed 50 five times.

Vijay had a forgettable tour of England earlier in the year and was dropped from the squad after 2 Tests in the Test series against England. But he played some decent knocks in county cricket thereafter and earned a call-up to the Indian team. His experience of having played in Australia would be vital to India's chances in Border Gavaskar trophy.

It would be interesting to see if Murali Vijay will straight away walk into the playing XI with India having opened with Shaw and Rahul in Windies home series in the absence of Vijay.

#1 Virat Kohli

Average 62, Runs 992, Matches 8, Innings 16, 100s 5, 50s 2, HS 169

Virat Kohli is nearing the 1000-run mark in Australia

It's the Superman from India who leads this chart with a phenomenal average of 62, having scored close to 1000 runs on Australian soil.

Virat Kohli has toured Australia twice, and in just 16 innings down-under, he has scored a mind-blowing 5 tons, just one behind the great Sachin Tendulkar. He has also scored a couple of 50s.

Perhaps the only regret which Kohli might have is he hasn't been able to win a Test match for India on any of those occasions. His twin hundreds in Adelaide has been the highlight of his batting exploits in Australia.

The Indian skipper would want to set the record straight this time around in a bid to become the first Indian team to win a Test series in Australia.