Australia vs India: Five talking points including Kohli, Smith, Bumrah, Lyon and World Test Championship scenarios

It may seem obvious when we say that India have scored more runs than Australia in the last two series, but this has indeed been one of the key differences.

In the 2018–19 series, India’s first innings average (327) eclipsed Australia’s (253). In the 2020–21 season, this gap has been reduced to 15 runs (from 288 to 273).

India’s top six averaged 37.5 points in 2018-19 compared to Australia’s 27, but the hosts managed to squeeze that out last time out.

India’s middle class (five-eight) has comfortably outscored Australia in both series (34 to 24.9 in 2018-19 and 33.4 to 26 two years later).

However, there are concerns about India’s performance after the series against New Zealand.

They scored only two runs of 250 or more in the series and were bowled out for 46, 156 and 121 runs in three matches.

Rishabh Pant, who played a crucial role in the previous wins against Australia, is in good form and averaged 43.50 in this series, but captain Rohit Sharma averaged just 15.16 and Virat Kohli averaged 15.5.

Yashasvi Jaiswal (31.66), Shubman Gill (36) and Sarfaraz Khan (28.5) also struggled as only Pant made more than half a century in the series.

In 2024, Kohli and Rohit averaged only 22.72 and 29.4 in Tests and it is difficult to expect India to win unless these numbers improve.

Rohit will miss the first Test for the birth of his second child, so India will have to find a new partner for Jaiswal at the top of the order. Bowler Jasprit Bumrah will lead India in Rohit’s absence.