Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has already made a prediction for the highly anticipated Test series between Australia and India, scheduled to begin in November.

This five-match series is crucial for both teams as they prepare for the ICC World Test Championship final next year.

Ponting has identified key questions that both Australia and India must address in the lead-up to the series, which is expected to be a thrilling contest.

Legendary cricketer Ponting has forecast the outcome of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between Australia and India, a contest that could determine which team secures a coveted spot in the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's, given India's current top spot and Australia's close second in the standings.

Despite India's recent dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having won the last two Test series in Australia and holding the trophy since 2017, Ponting believes that Australia may have the upper hand in the upcoming series, potentially ending India's winning streak.

"It's going to be a competitive series and as I said I think Australia's got a bit of a point to prove against India in Australia on the back of what's happened the last the last two series here," Ponting said as quoted by ICC.

"We are back to five Tests as well, which is the other really important thing about this series. It’s only been four Tests the last couple of times. Five tests, I think everyone's really excited by that and I don't know if there'd be too many drawn games," he added.

"I'm obviously going to tip Australia to win and I'm never going to tip against Australia. There will be a draw somewhere and there will be some bad weather somewhere, so I'm going to say 3-1 to Australia," Ponting said.

Ponting anticipates a familiar Australian lineup for the upcoming series against India, with few surprises expected. However, he is uncertain about Steve Smith's role, specifically whether he will continue as an opener, a position he assumed after David Warner's departure to accommodate Cameron Green at his preferred number four spot. Ponting believes this arrangement will likely persist.

"I think Australia will pretty much pick itself. Probably the only one question there might be with Australia again, is if (Steve) Smith's the right man to be opening the batting. That would be the only query that I can see there. But that was all about obviously bringing Cameron Green back into the side," Ponting said.

"So I'll rephrase it, not whether Smith's the right man to open the batting but whether he thinks it's the right spot for him. Because I think if he doesn't think it's the right spot then they'll make a change and get someone else back up there," he added.

Ponting recognizes that the traditional Australia-England Ashes rivalry, long considered the pinnacle of Test cricket rivalries, now faces strong competition from the increasingly intense and competitive Australia-India contests, which have grown in significance and intensity in recent years.

"I think I was a part of it when that really started to grow, when the rivalry really started to grow, was it's right at the back end of my career," Ponting noted.

"And that's when I think India seemingly really started to stand up to the fight and say, OK you're playing against India now, this is a different Indian team, we've got different leaders and different players and we're going to do it whatever we can to beat you guys - whether it's in India or in Australia.

"I've said for the last couple of years now, Australia have always had a fierce rivalry with England, obviously, and a very strong rivalry with South Africa. But I think India is now sitting right on the back of what an Ashes clash is like and probably overtaken the rivalry with South Africa. So I mean, that's probably enough said. The fact that someone like me is looking at it in that way. I'm sure the players look at it in the same way as well and I'm really excited for the summer," he added.

"There'll be a lot of Indian broadcasters out there. There'll be a lot of Indian fans out here. India will bring a really strong team here. And we know Australia are World Test Champions at the moment so it should be a mouth-watering summer again," Ponting said.