India vs Australia, 1st Test – Dafanews Match Preview

India vs Australia is always one contest that keeps the fans on the edge of their seats. Australia is currently the number one Test team whereas India will look to make the most of their own conditions. The first Test match between these two potent teams will be played in Nagpur from Thursday.

We look at the current form, head-to-head, players to look out for, and squads of both teams in our match preview.

Current form of India: W W L W W

India is a force to reckon with in their own conditions and they will look to draw the first blood in the series. The home team is expected to play three spinners with Ravichandran Ashwin leading the pack. Furthermore, the hosts will want to come up with a collective show in all three departments.

Current form of Australia: D W W W W

Australia had a successful home summer against West Indies and South Africa but the Pat Cummins-led team knows they will have their work cut out in difficult Indian conditions. The Aussies recently won in Pakistan but India will pose a more difficult challenge for them. The visitors will want to keep the Indian spinners at bay and it will determine their success in the series.

Head to Head: Matches: 102, Won by Australia: 43, Won by India: 30, Draws: 28, Tied: 1.

Australia holds the advantage in the head-to-head battle against India.

Player to watch out for: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Mohammed Shami will hold the key for India.

David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon will be the crucial players for Australia.

India (first two Tests): Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.

Australia: Pat Cummins (Captain), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.