Following a disappointing 3-0 Test series whitewash against New Zealand at home, India is gearing up for a daunting tour of Australia. While the focus has primarily been on India’s vulnerabilities, the Pat Cummins-led Australian squad isn’t without its own concerns. Australia’s recent 2-1 ODI series loss to Pakistan at home serves as a stark reminder that they aren’t in the best form across formats. Here are three critical areas where India can capitalize during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
#3 Batting Concerns
Australia’s biggest challenge heading into the Test series is the lack of recent red-ball cricket for their batters. Since their last Test match in March 2024, most of their cricket has been limited to white-ball formats. In contrast, the Indian team, despite some criticism, has had red-ball exposure in two Test series in this period.
Moreover, the absence of their top-performing batters from the last season — David Warner (retired) and Cameron Green (injured) — leaves a significant void. Warner averaged 50.53, while Green averaged 49.83 last season. This puts extra pressure on players like Steven Smith, who will be switching from opening to number four, an adjustment that might disrupt his rhythm.
India’s pacers, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, could exploit this unsettled top order, especially on lively pitches. The Australian batters, who struggled against Pakistan’s pace attack on home soil, may find it challenging against a well-rounded Indian pace unit on surfaces with bounce and seam movement.
#2 Fifth Bowler Dilemma
Australia’s bowling depth will be tested in the absence of a reliable fifth bowler. Without Cameron Green, who was pivotal in balancing the side as an all-rounder, the hosts lack a genuine fifth bowling option. They are left with Mitchell Marsh, whose history of injuries while bowling might prevent Australia from over-relying on him.
On flat tracks like those at Melbourne and Sydney, where spinners like Nathan Lyon may have to bowl long spells, having a versatile set of bowlers is essential. The makeshift options — Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Travis Head — are not reliable enough against top-class batters. In contrast, India boasts a more balanced attack with Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar, and even Nitish Kumar Reddy as part-time options, giving them the flexibility to handle any situation.
India’s superior depth in all-rounders offers a clear advantage, especially on flatter tracks where spreading the workload becomes crucial. Having five or six bowling options, including quality spin, puts them in a much stronger position than the Australian side that might rely heavily on their core three pacers.
#1 Opening Issues
Australia faces a familiar conundrum at the top of their batting order. With Steven Smith returning to the number four position, the opening duties fall to Usman Khawaja and debutant Nathan McSweeney. The 25-year-old McSweeney, though talented, is relatively inexperienced with a first-class average of 38.16. He impressed with an *88 against India ‘A’**, but making a Test debut against the likes of Bumrah and Siraj is a different challenge altogether.
This scenario mirrors the issues Australia faced in the 2018-19 series when David Warner’s absence led to the debut of Marcus Harris. Despite a couple of decent scores, Harris struggled to provide consistent starts, which weakened the Australian batting unit. A shaky top order puts pressure on the middle order early in the innings, a situation India’s bowlers will look to exploit.
For India, after the first Test where Rohit Sharma might not play, their top three — likely featuring Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and possibly KL Rahul or Abhimanyu Easwaran — looks far more settled and experienced. This stability gives India a chance to apply early pressure on the Australian bowlers, especially if the inexperienced McSweeney falters.
Conclusion
While Australia remains a formidable side, the cracks in their batting lineup, the lack of a strong fifth bowler, and opening instability offer India clear avenues to exploit. With India aiming for a 4-0 series win to secure a place in the World Test Championship final, their pace attack and batting depth give them a fighting chance to capitalize on Australia’s weaknesses.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy promises to be an intense battle, but if India plays to their strengths and targets these specific vulnerabilities, they can tilt the series in their favor and continue their recent dominance in Australia.