The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is just days away and the cricket pundits have got their prediction caps on. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting made a few predictions about the series and backed Australia to beat India 3-1. Ponting stressed on Mohammed Shami's absence from the India squad and said taking 20 wickets would be challenging for the Rohit Sharma-led side despite having Jasprit Bumrah in the squad.
"Shami just leaves such a big hole in that bowling group," Ponting told the ICC website. "Back then (in August) there was still some conjecture whether Shami would be fit or not. Taking 20 wickets in a Test match for India is going to be the biggest challenge. I think they'll bat well enough out here with the current group of batters that they've got."
India won the previous two tours to Australia, but Ponting believes they might just be able to win a Test during the series. India recently suffered a 0-3 defeat to New Zealand at home and are down on confidence. They have plenty of problems heading into the series, including a vulnerable batting lineup.
"I think India will win a Test match somewhere through the five Test matches," he predicted. "But I still think now, Australia probably look a bit more settled, a bit more experienced and we know that they're a very hard team to beat at home. So I'll stick with the 3-1 (prediction)."
Ponting also predicted the leading run scorer of the seires and backed Steve Smith or RIshabh Pant to top the list. Pant has been in great form since his return to Test cricket, scoring a hundred, 99 and two fifties in the last five Tests. "Leading run scorer, I'm going to go (with) Steve Smith or Rishabh Pant," he remarked.