India vs Australia, 09 Feb, 2023 Match Prediction

India's final obstacle in its quest for a third WTC Final.

1. In his last four matches, Steve Smith, who averages 60 in India, has scored two centuries.

2. In 18 tests against Australia, Ravichandran Ashwin has taken 89 wickets, the most of any test-playing nation.

3. In the 14 tests India has played at home since 2008-09, they have won 10 of them and lost only once to Australia.

We predict that India will defeat Australia.

IND VS AUS MATCH PREDICTION & ANALYSIS

After a six-year absence, the Border-Gavaskar Test series is returning to India. The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur will host the first of the four Test matches on February 9 at 9:30 a.m. After winning their respective test series this year, both teams will be optimistic. However, as the saying goes, winning a Test series in India is extremely difficult.

Since July, India has only participated in one Test series. In Bangladesh, they defeated Bangladesh 2-0. Cheteshwar Pujara, who played for Sussex during the most incredible English summer, scored the most runs, scoring 222 in a century and a half. In the one and only game he could play, Kuldeep Yadav made a successful comeback in the squad by taking 8 wickets.

Australia hosted South Africa for a three-match Test series. They were able to win the series 2-0 thanks to their batters and bowlers' combined efforts. Steve Smith scored the most runs with 231 runs, followed by David Warner and Travis Head, both of his teammates. With 12 wickets at an average of 16.91, the bowling attack was led by captain Pat Cummins. In six matches played in India, Steve Smith has averaged 60 and scored three centuries. Indian pacers should be wary of his body shape.

In the most recent Border Gavaskar Trophy held in Australia, India staged a significant comeback. Rishabh Pant's heroics on the final day helped India win the series 2-1, despite trailing 1-0 after the first Test. Sadly, the Indian team will be left without him because he was injured in a terrible accident. India had also won the previous test against Australia that was played in India, which did not surprise everyone. While attempting to score 106 runs in the fourth innings, they defeated the visitors by 8 wickets.

For India, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be of the utmost significance. This will be their last chance to advance to the World Test Championship final. To get to England, they need at least two wins. They will face Australia in June if they can pull this off.

TEAMS PREVIEW

India Preview

India must choose between Shubman Gill and KL Rahul to open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma. In the most recent BGT played in India, KL Rahul scored 6 half-centuries and scored 393 runs. However, India will be tempted to acquire Shubman Gill based on his current performance. In the last seven matches, Gill has scored a century in each of the following formats: Test, ODI, double century, ODI, and T20I. It will be ideal for Gill to open the game and Rahul to play in the middle.

Third-stringer Cheteshwar Pujara will play. Pujara's record against Australia is incredible. Pujara has scored 1893 runs against Australia in 20 Test matches, averaging 54.08 runs per match. Five centuries and ten half-centuries are included in this. He is our choice to bat first. In the middle, Virat Kohli and Pujara will work together. Australia is Kohli's love affair on a whole new level. He has scored 1682 runs in 20 Test matches, including 7 centuries and a half. However, only one of them has returned home. Since 2019, Kohli has not scored a century in a Test. However, the 28th century is predicted by three ODI centuries since last month. India is having trouble selecting the ideal Rishabh Pant replacement, just like the opening slot. Ishan Kishan or KS Bharat will have the opportunity to wear gloves.

Due to the injury he sustained last year, Jaspreet Bumrah has been ruled out of the series. In the absence of Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami will lead the pace attack. Siraj, the best ODI bowler in the world, is in great form at home. He also took the most wickets for India in the most recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy. All eyes will be on Ashwin and his famous fight with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. Against Australia, Ashwin has taken 89 wickets. With Jadeja back from his injury, it will be interesting to see if India will use three spinners, including Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav, or if Patel and Umesh Yadav, a local kid, will play.

India Players: KS Bharath (wk), Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja/Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami.

Australia Preview

During the 2021-23 cycle of the ICC World Test Championship, Australia was the team. They are already eligible to compete in the finals. However, after losing a home test series against India last year, the Indian challenge will be the most difficult. David Warner and Usman Khwaja will bat first for Australia. Khwaja has scored 1080 runs at an average of 67.50 in the last 11 tests, but his average against India has been 28.28 in four Tests. He has scored more than 50 runs in every other inning with four centuries and five half centuries.

Marnus Labuschagne, the Test batter who holds the record for most victories in the world and is ranked number three, will continue his impressive performance against India. In the last ten innings, Labuschagne has thrown four centuries. Steve Smith, like Virat Kohli, will be a crucial middle player for Australia. In this WTC cycle, Smith has scored 876 runs, scoring 2 centuries and 5 half centuries at an average of 58.40. His highest average against any test team is 72.58 against India. In the middle, Smith will partner with Alex Carey, Travis Head, and Travis Head. Due to an injury, Cameron Green will miss the first Test. Smith is the best candidate for top batter.

Australia Player: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

It will be cooler outside. The temperature will range from 14 to 32 degrees Celsius. At 5-7 km/h, the wind will be blowing from the west. The spinners will be delighted by the pitch. Recent photographs revealed that, with the exception of the length areas outside the left-hander's leg stump, the groundstaff had watered the entire surface.

Venue Details

The first Test will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. The venue has hosted 5 Tests, 11 ODIs, and 12 T20Is so far, with a seating capacity of 45,000. At this location, India has scored the most runs with 610, with four batters (Murali Vijay, Pujara, Kohli, and Rohit Sharma) scoring centuries in an inning.

Toss: To Bowl

Two of the five Tests ended with an equal score for each team. The second innings have a higher average score than the first, which is surprising. The role shifts in the opposite direction, with the third innings dominating the fourth. Bowling should begin with the team that won the toss.

Winning Prediction

So far, Australia has had a successful WTC cycle. They are already eligible to compete in the finals. However, this is the battle they yearn to win. In India, winning a test series is not everyone's cup of tea. After India made it possible twice in Australia, they will be eager to win their first series on Indian soil since their last victory in 2004.

With the statistics that anyone can look for, India will win. Since 2012 against the rest of the world and 2004 against Australia, they have not lost a series. In the last five years, they have won the Border Gavaskar Trophy four times. Aside from that, India has won 10 of its 14 Tests in India and lost to Australia.

We predict that India will defeat Australia in this match.