Australia vs India 2018: Australia Strong Enough to Challenge India Without Smith, Warner - Virender Sehwag
Published - 10 Nov 2018, 02:01 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:56 PM
In the last few years due to the lack of bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan, the India-Australia rivalry has grown a lot. Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag feels Australia is strong enough to challenge India without the services of Steven Smith and David Warner. However, both India and Australia have dominated at homes but have struggled overseas.
Virat Kohli will lead India for the for a full series Down Under. Moreover, it is believed India has the best chance to win the Test series with the absence of Smith and Warner.
Australia’s fast bowlers can trouble India.
On the other hand, Virender Sehwag believes Australia has it in them to give a tough challenge to India even without Smith and Warner.
“Doesn’t matter if they (Australia) don’t have good players like Steve Smith and David Warner. They are playing in their own backyard,” Virender Sehwag quoted as saying by NDTV, in an exclusive chat.
Furthermore, Virender Sehwag feels the Aussies players have enough experience of the domestic circuit. They have already played first-class cricket and had scored plenty of runs.
“These players who are coming and playing in Test cricket have already played first-class cricket there. They’ve scored a number of runs. They don’t have much experience if you talk about international matches but they will give a good fight to the Indian team,” Sehwag added.
The 40-year-old praised India by saying they can win a Test series anywhere in the world.
“I’ve been saying this for last one year that they can win Test series in Australia, England and South Africa. They have to play really well. If they match first innings total with Australia and England, they have a chance to beat them,” Virender Sehwag opined.
Virender Sehwag also shared his views about young Prithvi Shaw. He made his maiden Test century in his debut match against Windies. Shaw was also awarded as the Man of the Series award for his excellent performance in the series.
“He (Shaw) is going to play in Australia as an opener because in last two Test matches we’ve seen the way he played. He is a key batsman for me because in Australia you need someone who can play some attacking cricket. If KL Rahul gives him company and they both come good then Australia will have a bad time,” Sehwag concluded.
India will tour to Australia for three ODIs, four Tests and three T20Is.
