India vs. Australia: Fourth Test Preview
Australia will be eyeing an unlikely 2-2 straight draw when they take on India in Thursday’s final Border Gavaskar Test at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, after clinching a convincing nine-wicket win in Indore last week had.
There are reports that more than 100,000 spectators could be in attendance on the game’s opening day – a potential Test match record.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are expected to attend on the first day.
The Australians overcame the absence of skipper Pat Cummins and opener David Warner, as well as a poorly rated place at Indore, to secure their ticket to the World Test Championship Finals at Kennington’s The Oval in June.
It was only her second Test win on Indian soil since 2004.
Nathan Lyon was named Player of the Match for his heroic 8-for-64 numbers in a match-defining third inning, along with 3-for-35 numbers in the first inning.
Matthew Kuhnemann also picked up the first five-wicket draw of his Test career, finishing with numbers of 5 from 16 to help Australia limit India to 109 first innings overall.
While India retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after their win in Delhi, Australia still has a chance to pull the streak and end their tour on a high before their trip to England mid-year.
Deputy skipper Steve Smith will once again lead the Australians in Ahmedabad, with Cummins opting to remain in Australia for personal reasons.
Australia is unlikely to make any changes to the XI, which emerged victorious at Indore.
Travis Head and Usman Khawaja will open the batting, with Marnus Labuschagne, Smith and Peter Handscomb forming the middle order.
All-rounder Cameron Green and wicketkeeper Alex Carey will round things out at six and seven with Mitchell Starc and spin trio Lyon, Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy.
India, meanwhile, is considering two changes, with Mohammed Shami expected to step in for Mohammed Siraj after the Indore test.
Skipper Rohit Sharma will open with Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Shreyas Iyer in middle order alongside Shubman Gill – who came on the side to replace KL Rahul in Indore.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel – who have played crucial roles as lower-tier batters in this series – lead the rear along with Quicks Shami and Umesh Yadav.
There are whispers that India could make a Test debut for white ball wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan in place of KS Bharat, who had his batter and behind the stumps struggles in his debut series.
A win would secure India a place in the World Test Championship Finals against Australia later that year.
India are once again the favorites to go into the clash, with bookies predicting the hosts a 3-1 series win and subsequent place in the final of the Test World Cup.