Virat Kohli-led India will take on the hosts Australia in 3 T20Is, 4 Tests and 3 ODIs during the 2-month long tour. Their campaign starts with the T20I at The Gabba in Brisbane on November 21.
While India have been decent in the limited-overs format in their erstwhile tours of Australia, their record in the red-ball cricket haven’t been all that great by any stretch of the imagination.
After the Test series’ defeat in South Africa and England, Kohli brigade would want to make amends and turn their wretched fortunes in Down Under. Recently, former Aussie batsman Michael Hussey mentioned that all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s absence will hurt the visitors in the upcoming matches.
“I think Hardik is a wonderful talent and I am sure his game style would have been suited to the Australian conditions. Add to that, the balance he offers the team with his all-round abilities, yes I think his absence will hurt India,” Hussey was quoted as saying in Scroll.in.
Pandya wasn’t picked for Australia tour since he is undergoing rehabilitation after suffering a lower-back injury during the Asia Cup in Dubai last September.
Moreover, Hussey believes that India have a strong chance to prosper on the tour as the home team will be without two of their premier batsmen in David Warner and Steve Smith, both currently serving ball-tampering bans.
Despite that he also warned India that they won’t find it easy against a ‘world-class’ Australian bowling attack. “I do think India have a good chance as they have an excellent team with some very good fast bowlers. However, I think Australia’s bowling attack is world class and will challenge the Indian team, particularly the younger players in Australian conditions. Australia always play well at home and hence will be very hard to beat,” the 43-year-old added.
