Australia vs India, 1st Test: Presenting the key player battles
What's the story
The much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 will kick off with the opening Test match on November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
This is a crucial juncture in cricket history as India have won each of their last four bilateral Test series against Australia.
But Australia is keen to start this campaign with a bang against an Indian side that will be without Rohit Sharma.
Here we decode the key player battles for the series opener.
#1
Jasprit Bumrah vs Travis Head
One of the world's most fearsome bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah, will be taking charge of the Indian team in Sharma's absence.
All eyes will be on him as he takes on Travis Head, Australia's current best batter across formats.
As per ESPNcricinfo, Bumrah has trapped Head twice across nine Test innings as the latter averages just 25 in this regard.
The pacer has dismissed him twice in white-ball internationals as well.
#2
Pat Cummins vs Virat Kohli
Another key player battle to watch out for in the upcoming Test is between Australian captain Pat Cummins and Indian batting mainstay Virat Kohli.
Cummins has dismissed the Indian batter as many as five times in 12 innings.
Meanwhile, Kohli has maintained an average of 19.20 in this battle. His tally includes 96 runs off 269 balls.
The star Indian batter has fallen to Cummins four times in Australia in Test cricket.
#3
Mitchell Starc vs KL Rahul
There will be an intriguing battle between Mitchell Starc and KL Rahul as well.
In Rohit's absence, Rahul will be opening the batting for India and his biggest challenge will be facing off against the tall and fast Starc.
Starc has only trapped Rahul twice across 10 Test innings. The batter averages 50 in this regard.
Both these dismissals have been recorded Down Under. Rahul's away average against Starc reduces down to 16.50.
#4
Ravichandran Ashwin vs Steve Smith
Steve Smith and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin can also have an exciting face-off.
The star batter has an incredible record against Ashwin in Test cricket, scoring 434 runs in 25 innings at 54.25.
However, he has also been dismissed by Ashwin eight times.
On Australian tracks, Ashwin has dismissed the Australian talisman thrice in nine innings.
However, Smith has a phenomenal average of 80.33 in this rivalry Down Under.
#5
Nathan Lyon vs Rishabh Pant
Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon would be aiming to stop the dangerous Rishabh Pant.
Lyon has dismissed Pant five times in Tests across 12 innings.
The southpaw has scored 229 runs off Lyon's bowling from 347 balls at an average of 45.80. He has a strike rate of 65.99.
Pant has smashed 19 fours and seven sixes in this rivalry.
Notably, he has only faced Lyon in Australia.