Sunil Gavaskar urges Ravichandran Ashwin to play mind games with Steve Smith ahead of BGT 2024-25

India legend Sunil Gavaskar wants the ace India offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin to play mind games against star Australia batter Steve Smith ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

The mind games before the highly anticipated Test series between Australia and India have already started with some of the former cricketers taking a dig at each other's teams.

It started with former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who predicted Australia to win the Border-Gavasar series 3-1. Ex-India head coach Ravi Shastri joined the conversation and reminded Ponting of the last two times when India toured Australia for a Test series. Later, John Buchanan also backed Australia to win the series.

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Sunil Gavaskar on the mind games by former Australian players

Sunil Gavaskar reckons that the five home Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand will be important for India to fine-tune their preparations for the Australia Tests later this year. He also spoke about the mind games that have already started between the former players from both sides.

“The five Test matches that India play (at home) before they go to Australia will be good for the mental tuning that is required for a tough tour like that,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for the Mid-Day.

“Already the mind games have begun with Australian players both current and former airing their views about what the result would be. While they (Australia) are not making Glenn McGrath-like statements of a clean sweep they are still suggesting that Australia will prevail,” Gavaskar added.

Sunil Gavaskar wants Ravichandran Ashwin to play mind games

The legendary India opener further lamented the fact that no former India player apart from Ravi Shastri has countered the mind games played by former Australian players. However, he has a suggestion for Ravichandran Ashwin and wants the offspinner to join the party.

"Sadly, apart from Ravi Shastri no other former or current player has seen to counter the mind games which the Aussies are so good at. Maybe Ravichandran Ashwin should start telling us about a special delivery that he is developing for Steve Smith, that is of course if he continues to open the batting and can survive Jasprit Bumrah,” Gavaskar wrote in his column.

Ravichandran Ashwin's record against Steve Smith

The role of Ravichandran Ashwin will be crucial in the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2024-25 but it remains to be seen how many matches Ashwin gets to play in the series. India have opted to play with four fast bowlers on most occasions outside Asia and Ashwin's place will be under threat if India chooses to go with the same formula.

However, Ravichandran Ashwin's experience and record against Steve Smith will be something that will be in the minds of the Indian team management. The legendary offspinner has dismissed Smith eight times in Test cricket, which is the second-most after Stuart Broad, who dismissed Smith 11 times in his career.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will comprise of five Tests this time and will begin in November in Perth. The series will continue till early January with the last Test to be played in Sydney.