India vs Australia: As we are approaching the ultimate battle in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series the mind game has begun, with Rohit Sharma-led India considered the favourites against home team Australia despite playing away series.

In recent times India have gained an upper hand against Australia in the series, having beaten the Aussies in their own home in 2019 and 2021. However, Australia will aim to take revenge, owing to a strong home record and reputation as a challenging rival meaning India might not want to take Aussies lightly.

Australia's experienced spinner Nathan Lyon overlooked prominent names like India's star speedster Jasprit Bumrah and spinner Ravindra Jadeja to identify captain Rohit Sharma, veteran batter Virat Kohli, and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant as the key players from India's squad, labelling them the "big three".

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He admitted that this trio, followed by talented players like opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Jadeja, will present a tough challenge for Australia.

"Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant are probably going to be the three really big ones. But then you've still got Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Jadeja, and who else will come out-another five, I'm not sure. But it's a pretty amazing line-up they've got, so it's going to be a massive challenge. As I said, if we, as a bowling group, are good enough for long periods, hopefully, we can challenge their defence," Lyon told Star Sports in an interview.

India won the 2018/19 and 2020/21 BGT series by 2-1 margins, both held in Australia. These historic victories not only cemented India's reputation as one of the best Test sides in the world but also deepened the rivalry. Khawaja emphasized how much India enjoys these victories, particularly given Australia's dominance in cricket history.

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The upcoming five-match Test series, starting on November 22, 2024, in Perth, will be another chance for India to continue their winning streak on Australian soil and aim for a hat-trick of series wins. The series will also move to Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, adding to the traditional venues of this iconic clash.