DOHA (Qatar): India will hope to close the gap on the ICC World Test Championship with table-toppers Australia when they face them in the first pink-ball Test in Adelaide on Thursday.
India are third in ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings with 114 rating points while Australia lead with 116.46 points.
New Zealand are second (116.37) and are very close to reaching the ICC World Test Championship final in 2021 after securing back-to-back innings victories against the West Indies.
India will feel the pressure as the race to the World Test Championship final heats up.
India captain Virat Kohli said a “high-voltage” Test series against fierce rivals Australia, but also predicted a more respectful era between the cricketing powers.
“It’s going to be high-voltage cricket because we have quality players on both sides and they are all hungry and eager to perform… it’s definitely going to be as competitive as it has always been,” said Kohli.
“There’s going to be tension, there’s going to be stress, there’s going to be emotions flaring every now and then, but I don’t foresee anything getting personal anymore.”
India clinched their maiden series in Australia in 2018-19, triumphing 2-1, but they face a tougher assignment this time.
Not only is Steve Smith back, having missed that series while banned for ball-tampering, but India face their first pink-ball Test against Australia, and only their second ever.
In contrast, Australia has played seven day-nighters and won them all.
India Squad: Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravi Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
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