Former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan has admitted that Australia has a slight edge over India during the four-match Test series scheduled to begin in December. He pointed out that India has quality pacers but they are missing a left-arm bowler while Australia has Mitchell Starc.
Irfan Pathan didn’t doubt the present bowling line up with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma. But he believes Australia has an advantage in the series, the reason being they are playing at home while they have also a left-arm pacer which India is lacking in.
An advantage for Australia sure: Irfan Pathan
Ifran Pathan said that the left-arm bowler has different variations under his armoury to dismantle right-hand batsmen, which is the most number of the breed in the Indian squad. So, he didn’t mince words to label Australia in the above position than India.
“There is no doubt that the two teams are evenly matched when it comes to quality of pace bowling. India have a top-quality, world-class bowling line-up. But I think Australia will have a slight advantage as they are playing at home and they have a left-arm bowler in Mitchell Starc. A left-arm pace bowler provides variety, also the angle across the right-handed batsman. Though I think the advantage could only be slight, but there will be advantage for sure,” Irfan Pathan, who took part in the 2003-04 and 2007-08 Test series in Australia, told IANS.
Apart from Irfan Pathan’s pointed deficiency, the Indian team will also be missing their massive contributor and captain Virat Kohli during the four-match Test series. He will be with the team until the first Test matches- which will first-ever pink-ball Test match between India and Australia. The skipper has taken paternity leave to attend the birth of his first child. Thus, the onus will be on Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.