Australia vs India 2024, 1st Test - 3 player battles to watch out for

Cricket fans around the world are just hours away from witnessing the biggest cricket series of 2024. Australia will host India in the first Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy that will be held in Perth on Friday. It is a huge series for both sides with a lot on the line as Australia will want to win their first BGT series in a decade. 

Team India on the other hand has to win the series to keep their qualification hopes for World Test Championships finals alive. Jasprit Bumrah has been named the skipper of the first game as captain Rohit Sharma isn’t set to take the field. The series is a huge chance for India to find new heroes as the likes of Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harshit Rana get ready for their first taste of cricket in Australia. 

Ahead of the opening game of the series, fans will be keen to watch some key battles between the players. Mitchell Starc running into bowl at Yashasvi Jaiswal will be one of the best earliest battles that will be keenly watched. Such players' battles in every session can change the course of the match in Perth. 

Here are the top 3 player battles to watch out from the first Test in Perth 

3- Steve Smith vs R. Ashwin 

The Australian middle-order since a long time has been spearheaded by Steve Smith and the 35-year-old has an amazing record against India. Steve Smith has been struggling for form in recent times but his class with the bat cannot be forgotten. After opening the batting in a few games, Smith is set to get back to his favorite number 4 spot in the batting order. 

R. Ashwin, who is on his last tour of Australia is set to feature during the opening game of the series as the only spinner. The 38-year-old has had a great rivalry against Steve Smith and has dismissed the right-handed batter on 8 occasions. During the last tour of Australia in 2020/21, Ashwin was dismissed twice in two games to set the tone for India. 

2- Virat Kohli vs Pat Cummins 

Indian batting in Perth will be dependent on veteran batting star Virat Kohli who played a great innings at this venue last time. In his only Test match in Perth, the then-India skipper scored 123 runs in the first innings. Over the last few years, Kohli’s form in Test cricket has taken a huge nosedive but his overall record in Australia has been exemplary. 

Australian skipper Pat Cummins will be eager to get hold of the ball against Virat Kohli in Perth. The 31-year-old Aussie star has dismissed Virat Kohli on five occasions and each of those times Kohli was caught. Considering that India’s ace batter has fished outside the off-stump his battle with Pat Cummins will be one to watch out for. It will be a battle of strength and patience between two key superstars. 

1- Travis Head vs Jasprit Bumrah 

Left-handed batter Travis Head has twice hurt India with centuries in key encounters. The 31-year-old scored centuries in the WTC finals and the ODI World Cup 2023 finals that left India bruised. At present, there is no other batter who is as dangerous as Head and the batter will be a key scalp for India during the series. 

Jasprit Bumrah has been one of the best bowlers in the world and can take wickets from any situation. The 30-year-old has got Travis Head twice in Test cricket and the battle between Head and Bumrah will be one to watch out for in Perth. Both players are naturally aggressive and has the ability to have a huge say in the game for their sides.