Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith, Check IND vs AUS Dream11 Fantasy Team, C-VC Options Here

Cricket Image for India vs Australia, 1st Test – IND vs AUS Cricket Match Preview, Prediction, Where (Cricketnmore)

Team India are set to take on Australia in the 1st Test of the illustrious Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

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IND vs AUS 1st Test: Match Preview:

Playing their first Test of the year, team India are in a critical position on their way to the WTC Finals. India would need to defeat Australia by 2-0, 3-0, 3-1 or 4-0 to make it to the finals. India would be without their top two run scorers in Tests in 2022, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer. Apart from these two, Cheteshwar Pujara was the top run-getter in 2022 with 409 runs in 10 innings with a century and 3 half-centuries to his name. The batting will rely on Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Pujara and possibly Shubman Gill in the top and middle order. 

India will also miss their top wicket-taker in Tests in 2022, Jasprit Bumrah in the first Test at least. Ravichandran Ashwin was the 2nd highest wicket-taker for India in Tests in 2022, registering 20 wickets to his name in 12 innings. Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat will form the pace department while Ashwin will lead the spin department along with Kuldeep Yadav, and most probably Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel.

Australia on the other hand are coming in with full strength for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which they have lost in the last three instances. Opener Usman Khawaja was the top run-getter for Australia in Tests in 2022, scoring 1,080 runs in 20 innings with 4 centuries and 5 half-centuries. Marnus Labuschagne (957 runs) and Steve Smith (957) are also in excellent touch while David Warner would look to step up and gain form. Travis Head, Alex Caret and Cameron Green will comprise the rest of the batting lineup. 

Australian spinner Nathan Lyon was the top wicket-taker for the Aussies in 2022, registering 47 wickets in 19 innings. Mitchell Swepson, Todd Murphy and Ashton Agar will be present to help Lyon in the spin department, while the Aussie pace attack looks dangerous as ever. Led by Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Lance Morris will present a strong challenge against Indian batters. Cameron Green will also contribute with his medium-pace bowling. 

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IND vs AUS 1st Test: Match Details

• Date – Thursday, February 09, 2023
• Time – 09:30 AM IST
• Venue – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

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Today's Match Prediction: Who will win today's cricket match? IND vs AUS 1st Test 

The first Test between India and Australia is expected to be a close contest, where team India will start as slight favourites to win due to home conditions. 

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IND vs AUS Head-to-Head:

• Total – 102
• India – 30
• Australia – 43
• Draw – 28
• Tie – 1

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IND vs AUS 1st Test: Where to Watch?

The Australian tour of India will be broadcasted live by Star Sports network as well as on DD Free Dish for free. Viewers can watch it online on the OTT platform Disney Plus Hotstar.

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IND vs AUS 1st Test Team News:

• India – Ravindra Jadeja cleared his fitness Test at NCA and is expected to make his way to the Indian playing 11. Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out due from the first Test due to an injury. 
• Australia – Pacers Mitchell Starc & Josh Hazlewood have been ruled out of the 1st Test due to injuries. 

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IND vs AUS 1st Test Probable Playing 11:

• India – Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, KS Bharat (w), Ravindra Jadeja/Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat
• Australia – Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Alex Carey (w), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Ashton Agar, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland

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Today Match IND vs AUS 1st Test Fantasy 11:

• Wicket-keepers – Alex Carey
• Batters – Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill
• All-rounders – Marnus Labuschagne, Ravindra Jadeja/Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin
• Bowlers –  Pat Cummins, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

C/VC options – Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Marnus Labuschagne, Ravichandran Ashwin