Shastri’s Picks: Key Players to Watch in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
The former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has not left himself isolated and has also commiserated on possible favorites for both India and Australia in the forthcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy that is expected to take place between two cricket giants.
India’s X-Facto
Shastri thinks highly of Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young opener probably most poised to change the game for India. His recent runs, which feature two back-to-back double centuries show he has the potential to rack up big scores and seems to be in form.
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As for the bowling department, shastri also expects great things from Jasprit Bumrah. He claims Bumrah is the best fast bowler in the world and is expected to spearhead the Indian bowling brigade.
Australia’s threat: Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, and Steve Smith
The Australian bowling pair of Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon posed a threat to Indian batting line, Shastri says. Tossing at full pace could be quite piercing. And nothing could get easier for the Indian batsmen with Lyon’s spinning as well.
Shastri is also of the opinion that Australia’s batting anchor Steve Smith who has looked out of sorts recently, is still a major threat. With his wealth of experience, he knows how to play under different conditions and is definitely a key member of the Australian team.
Key Matchups to Watch:
- Jaiswal versus Cummins: This is likely to be a very interesting confrontation, the young Indian opener against the world class Australian fast bowler.
- Bumrah versus Smith: We can witness a great contest in this modern day tussle. Bumrah can extract a little more bounce and movement which can test Smith’s technique.
- Lyon Vs Indian Middle Order: India’s middle order would have a stern examination against gilespie owing to his ability of spinning and bouncers and the likes of Kohli & Sharma two key players for the Indians treading through.
The Series Outlook:
Like the previous two series, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is once more going to be a very hard fought series. It is fair to say that either side has a reasonable probability to come out on top with the performance of certain players putting the team over the other.
India will be looking to take advantage of the home conditions along with their players who are in prime form. Australia on the contrary would wish to have the first test of the series as a fresh start as they seek to overcome their recent ignominy at the hands of England. In the end it will all come down to small details. The team who will perform well consistently and cope with the demanding conditions will probably become the winner. A mental game between the two as well will be of importance. Efforts in regard to pressure, recovery from failure and strong mentality will be the factors. The series could as well be determined by the extent of injuries sustained and that of players fatigue. It will be important for both teams to successfully manage their resources and make sure none of the crucial players are injured.
