As both Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant are injured and out and will be missing from the XI, it will be a toss-up between Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, KS Bharat, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav to fill those two spots in the XI against Australia for the first Test that begins on February 9th in Nagpur.

IND vs AUS: Sanjay Manjrekar predicts THIS star player to make the cut in XI for Nagpur Test

In what comes as another blow to the already injury-marred Australian team, all-rounder Cameron Green is now more or less ruled out of the first Test against India, starting on February 9th in Nagpur.

Injured Cameron Green didn't bat in nets in Nagpur, remains unlikely to feature in XI for 1st Test

The verbal volleys have already begun ahead of the marquee Border-Gavaskar series that starts this Thursday, February 9th in Nagpur. Unlike the previous times, the talk about a particular player or players’ battle in general is less; instead it’s about the pitches that will be on offer during the series.

'Anyone who thinks Australia are starting with an advantage are talking through their hat,' says Ian Chappell

In what appears to be an improbable task at the moment, Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan legend backs Australia to beat India in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series that begins on February 9th in Nagpur.

IND vs AUS: Mahela Jayawardene makes a bold prediction ahead of Border-Gavaskar series

India’s run in Tests at home is exceptional – let alone losing a Test match in a series, the Indian team hasn’t lost a Test series at home since losing to England 11 years back in 2012.

'India is the hardest place to travel; win in India is bigger than winning Ashes' - Oz cricketers ahead of BGT

The man in form for Australia, opener Usman Khawaja is aware of the challenge he is getting into. Despite having form on his side, the left-handed batter isn’t discounting the spin-heavy Indian bowling line-up in their own conditions.

Usman Khawaja remains wary of spin challenge against India, praises star India spinner ahead of series opener