Hat-trick or has-beens?

India look to win their third straight Test series in Australia, but ageing superstars and recent humiliation at home have cast a shadow on their hopes

- AYAZ MEMON

Approaching the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India's prospects loomed in uncertainty over the availability, fitness and form of some key players. Captain Rohit Sharma did not fly to Australia because his wife was expecting their second child. After protracted suspense, we now know he will miss the first Test starting in Perth on November 22.

Mohammed Shami will also miss that game. Out of cricket for almost a year for surgery and rehab, Shami came back with seven wickets in a Ranji match last week. But the BCCI has decided to put his fitness to more test before sending him to Australia.

Meanwhile, an injury to Shubman Gill in a warm-up game compelled a change in the batting line-up for the first Test on what promises to be a spicy Perth pitch.

The five-Test series is crucial for both teams on different counts. Qualifying for the World Test Championship final at Lord's in mid-2025 is the crux of India's campaign. This comes loaded with steep challenge after the shocking whitewash by New Zealand at home last month.

Before this rout, India were sitting pretty atop the WTC points table. Having slipped a place, they must beat Australia 4-0 to be guaranteed a place in the final. Metaphorically, it is like climbing Mount Everest in blistery conditions.

The India versus Australia rivalry, thoroughly one-sided till the 2000s, took a dramatic twist in 2001 when Steve Waugh's marauding side failed to conquer the 'final frontier! Since then, the contests have got more intense and riveting. India zoomed ahead after 2017, signalling a major shift in the power matrix of the sport.

Seeing the high degree of anticipation over the impending series, it could be argued that India versus Australia is perhaps even bigger than the Ashes!