Sunil Gavaskar weighs in on India's chances against Australia in upcoming Test series

Former India opener Sunil Gavaskar has shared his prediction for the highly anticipated Test series between India and Australia, set to begin in November. Gavaskar, a cricket legend, believes India has the edge and can secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy once again, continuing their recent success on Australian soil.

The five-match series is crucial, as it will play a significant role in determining who qualifies for the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's next year. While former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has backed his team to win, and ex-India captain Ravi Shastri has picked India, Gavaskar also sees India coming out on top.

In his column for the Indian newspaper, Gavaskar pointed to Australia's vulnerabilities, especially after the retirement of opener David Warner, as a key factor in India's favor. "With their opening batting problems exacerbated after the retirement of David Warner and the middle-order also a bit dodgy, the Aussies are ripe for the taking once again," Gavaskar wrote.

Gavaskar also expressed his excitement for the series, emphasizing the talent on both sides and the importance of Test cricket as the ultimate format. 

“With their opening batting problems exacerbated after the retirement of David Warner and the middle-order also a bit dodgy, the Aussies are ripe for the taking once again,” Gavaskar wrote.

“It’s going to be an exciting series for sure with the talent that is there on both sides and it will also show why Test match cricket is the ultimate format of our beloved game. Oh, and my prediction is a 3-1 win for India," he further wrote.

However, Gavaskar did raise some concerns about India's preparations for the series. He noted that India will not play any warm-up fixtures in Australia before the first Test in Perth on 22 November, relying instead on an intra-squad match at the WACA. 

"India being the usual slow starters in an overseas series in SENA countries the first Test will be crucial,” Gavaskar noted.

“That they aren't playing proper first-class games before that as well as in the week-long gaps between some Test matches could work against them," he concluded.