The 2017 Border-Gavaskar series was a hard fought one and we witnessed many heated, intense and competitive battles. To be honest, the iconic series lost it&#8217;s flair and became a bit too one-sided during the 2008-12 time frame. However, things changed when a young <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/learn-from-virat-kohli-sourav-ganguly-suggests-rishabh-pant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virat Kohli</a> took the battle to the Aussies on their turf, not to mention, he was handed over the reins following a shock retirement by MS Dhoni after the third Test.

Although the hosts won the series, by a margin of 2-0, the series was much closer than what the scoreline suggested and that&#8217;s because a relatively inexperienced Indian team failed to cash in on the huge game-changing moments. That series of 14-15 was a revolutionary one for the Indian side and currently, they are the number one ranked Test team. In 2017, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/australia-vs-india-2018-3rd-t20i-statistical-highlights/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India</a> won the series by a close margin of 2-1.

However, the unforgettable series of 2017, reignited some old memories and added a bit of fuel to the existing one. Even though the hosts are battling with the absence of their two stalwarts in the batting line-up, they are very much threatening at home and with the crowds expected to be hostile towards the touring side, we are bound to witness some insane on-field duels.

Let&#8217;s have a look at the 5 key player battles that could decide the outcome of this year&#8217;s Border-Gavaskar series.

Aaron Finch vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-285345" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Aaron-Finch.jpg" alt="Aaron Finch" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-285345" class="wp-caption-text">Aaron Finch. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Bhuvneshwar is back in the Test squad and he will be leading the bowling attack for India. The visiting team is likely to go with Ishant, Bhuvneshwar, Jasprit Bumrah and possibly, Mohammed Shami in their playing eleven. Bhuvi can swing the ball both ways early on in the innings and that&#8217;s how he gets most of his wickets.

With his increased pace, Bhuvneshwar will be a lethal force on the Australian tracks. In the absence of David Warner, the opening duties on <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/shane-warne-slams-victoria-for-not-letting-aaron-finch-open-the-batting/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aaron Finch&#8217;s</a> shoulders are heavy as ever. Finch is a game changer who has the ability to take the game away from the opposition in a matter of a few sessions.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-274565" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Bhuvneshwar-Kumar-1.jpg" alt="Bhuvneshwar Kumar of Indi" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-274565" class="wp-caption-text">Bhuvneshwar Kumar of India. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Although these two haven&#8217;t faced each other yet, in Tests, Bhuvneshwar holds the upper hand against the Australian limited-overs captain. Bhuvi has dismissed Finch on numerous occasions in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2019-five-overseas-players-who-might-go-unsold-in-the-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IPL</a>. In fact, Finch was dismissed by Bhuvneshwar in the recently concluded second T20I in the three-match series.

Finch has a tendency to keep his legs planted to the crease early on in his innings which makes him vulnerable to the one that comes in. So far, Bhuvaneshwar has exploited his shortcoming very well and it remains to be seen if he can repeat the same in red-ball cricket.

Nathan Lyon vs Ravichandran Ashwin

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-199692" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Nathan-Lyon-3.jpg" alt="Nathan Lyon" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-199692" class="wp-caption-text">Nathan Lyon of Australia is congratulated by teammates. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Let&#8217;s face it, this is one of the most underrated rivalries. Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin will battle it out again, perhaps for one final time in a bid to become the best off-spinner in the world. Their performance would settle the dust once and for all.

Australian tracks are pacer-friendly and the quicks are bound to get wickets. However, day four and day five are likely to get the spinners into the game and they, more or less, will dominate the proceedings. With both of these high-quality spinners on show, we are in for an intense spin duel.

In 64 Tests that Ashwin has played, he has picked up 336 wickets and Nathan Lyon, on the other hand, has 318 scalps to his name in the 80 Tests that he played. While the stats suggest that Ashwin is definitely better than Lyon, they do not tell the full story. When it comes to performance away from home, Lyon pips Ashwin in this department.

Ashwin&#8217;s struggles away from home are well known but one could cite flat and pacer friendly tracks as the reason for his indifferent show. However, Ashwin was highly inconsistent in the away series against England apart from the first Test. Performance at home is more often than not, underrated but that counts too.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-278263" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravichandran-Ashwin-1.jpg" alt="Ravichandran Ashwin" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-278263" class="wp-caption-text">Ravichandran Ashwin of India. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Out of 64 Tests, Ashwin has played 25 Tests away from home and has picked up 102 scalps at an average of 31.78. However, the numbers drastically change when Ashwin is bowling at home. In 39 Test at home, Ashwin has 234 wickets to his name at an average of 22.69.

When it comes to <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/nathan-lyon-still-bullish-about-his-world-cup-chances/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nathan Lyon</a>, he has got more wickets away than home. In 43 matches abroad, Lyon has got 179 wickets and at a slightly better average of 31.08. At home, Lyon has 139 wickets at an average of 33.75. Nathan holds an impressive record against India. 58 wickets, which is the most for any bowler and Nathan also has 3 seven-wicket hauls to his name (most by any bowler against India). His strike rate of 50.9 is the second best among the bowlers who have picked up 25 plus wickets against India.

The main difference between these two players is the ability to bat. Ashwin is a better batsman than Lyon and he likes to call himself an &#8220;all-rounder&#8221; and rightly so. In 64 Tests,  Ashwin has amassed 2331 runs at an average of 29.51. Lyon, on the other hand, has got on 839 runs in 80 Tests at a paltry average of 11.65.

With Ashwin expected to play a big role with the bat as well, this rivalry is bound to get interesting and we should cherish the fact that we are getting to see two of the greatest off-spinners of the modern era having a go at each other, perhaps for one last time.

Nathan Lyon vs Chiteshwar Pujara

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-277587" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Cheteshwar-Pujara-hundred.jpg" alt="Cheteshwar Pujara hundred" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-277587" class="wp-caption-text">India batsman Cheteshwa Pujara celebrates his century. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)</figcaption>

India&#8217;s premier number 3 player will look to take on the greatest Australian off-spinner from the word go. Lyon has dismissed Pujara on numerous occasions and these two share a rivalry of their own. Pujara has got a lot to prove after an unsatisfactory show in England.

These two players have got a little bit of rivalry of their own and Lyon holds a very good record against the Indian number three. In 15 innings, Lyon has dismissed Pujara 5 times, giving only 281 runs. Not to mention, Nathan also holds a very good record against Kohli as well as Rahane (dismissing them 5 times each, as well).

While the 30-year-old&#8217;s performance is the key to get a well-built platform for the middle-order to capitalize on, Lyon will look to get the better of him. This is a battle to watch out for.

Mitchell Starc vs KL Rahul

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-290460" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/KL-Rahul-1.jpg" alt="KL Rahul" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-290460" class="wp-caption-text">KL Rahul. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

To be blunt, this will be a make or break series for the Indian youngster. So far in his short international career, Rahul hasn&#8217;t been able to fulfil the promise that he showed us when he made his debut against Australia. KL has been largely inconsistent in his role as an opener and that is not acceptable when India are playing overseas. While the Indian bowling attack has been doing its job consistently, it&#8217;s the constant failure of the openers that has put the middle-order under severe pressure.

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/australia-vs-india-mitchell-starc-called-up-for-the-t20i-series-decider/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitchell Starc</a> is the best Australian bowler and is certainly one of the quickest going around, if not the quickest. Starc with the new ball is as deadly as a time bomb ready to go off! He can swing the ball both ways and his yorkers are the toughest to deal with, early on in the innings. It would be a sin if I don&#8217;t mention how quick Starc is, with his shorter deliveries.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-259201" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mitchell-Starc.jpg" alt="Mitchell Starc" width="640" height="399" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-259201" class="wp-caption-text">Mitchell Starc. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)</figcaption>

KL Rahul&#8217;s flaws against the moving ball were exposed in the tough conditions of England. The fourth and fifth stump line is what troubles Rahul. The sudden incoming delivery can also clean him up. Even though there&#8217;s not much of movement in Australia, the new ball swings, pretty much in any condition. In 2018, KL has only managed to amass 420 runs at an average of 24.71.

Even though Rahul averages 33.21 away from home, he has struggled with inconsistent performances of late. Starc has managed to dismiss him only once in the 6 innings that they have faced off. The left-armer will look to exploit Rahul&#8217;s weakness and the batsman will look to fulfil his potential against a strong Australian bowling attack.

Mitchell Starc vs Virat Kohli

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-275512" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-celebration-1.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-275512" class="wp-caption-text">India batsman Virat Kohli celebrates reaching his century. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)</figcaption>

The two stalwarts will be up against each other after a very long time. Starc&#8217;s battler against Kohli can be termed as a replacement for <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mitchell-johnson-wants-australia-to-back-shaun-marsh-for-india-test-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitchell Johnson</a> and Kohli. The 30-year-old averages a staggering 58.29 away from home and that&#8217;s quite remarkable. Starc and Kohli were teammates for RCB back in 2015 and Starc knows how to see his former teammates back.

Starc and Kohli have gone against each other in 13 innings so far and he has dismissed Kohli twice. The Australian plan of attack would be pretty simple. They will look to get Virat early with the help of Mitchell Starc with the new ball. The away swinger in the corridor of uncertainty around 4th and 5th stump line is still a bit of a problem for Virat and that was evident when the batter was dismissed for a golden duck by Stuart Broad.

The 28-year-old left-arm quick will look to capitalise into the minor chink in Kohli&#8217;s technique. Kohli, on the flip side, will look to counter-attack Starc as that&#8217;s the best way to put the pressure back on any bowler. The best batsman in the world will look to cement his number one spot against a formidable Australian pace battery. The way Virat handles Starc will prove to be decisive in the outcome of this series.

Border-Gavaskar series 2018 will be a great exhibition for Test cricket and these are the 5 player battles that could decide the owner of the coveted trophy. However, the question that still remains is that does <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/australia-vs-india-2018-3rd-t20i-best-memes-of-the-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India</a> have it in them to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy, away from home?

~ Written by Daiwik Tadikonda

Get the latest <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/">Cricket News </a>and updates<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/tag/slveng">,</a> <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-match-predictions/">Match Predictions</a>, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/fantasy-cricket-tips/">Fantasy Cricket Tips </a>and lots more on <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/">CricTracker.com</a>.

The 2017 Border-Gavaskar series was a hard fought one and we witnessed many heated, intense and competitive battles. To be honest, the iconic series lost it’s flair and became a bit too one-sided during the 2008-12 time frame. However, things changed when a young <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/learn-from-virat-kohli-sourav-ganguly-suggests-rishabh-pant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virat Kohli</a> took the battle to the Aussies on their turf, not to mention, he was handed over the reins following a shock retirement by MS Dhoni after the third Test.
Although the hosts won the series, by a margin of 2-0, the series was much closer than what the scoreline suggested and that’s because a relatively inexperienced Indian team failed to cash in on the huge game-changing moments. That series of 14-15 was a revolutionary one for the Indian side and currently, they are the number one ranked Test team. In 2017, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/australia-vs-india-2018-3rd-t20i-statistical-highlights/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India</a> won the series by a close margin of 2-1.
However, the unforgettable series of 2017, reignited some old memories and added a bit of fuel to the existing one. Even though the hosts are battling with the absence of their two stalwarts in the batting line-up, they are very much threatening at home and with the crowds expected to be hostile towards the touring side, we are bound to witness some insane on-field duels.
Let’s have a look at the 5 key player battles that could decide the outcome of this year’s Border-Gavaskar series.
<h3>Aaron Finch vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar</h3>
<figure id="attachment_285345" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-285345" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-285345" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Aaron-Finch.jpg" alt="Aaron Finch" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-285345" class="wp-caption-text">Aaron Finch. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Bhuvneshwar is back in the Test squad and he will be leading the bowling attack for India. The visiting team is likely to go with Ishant, Bhuvneshwar, Jasprit Bumrah and possibly, Mohammed Shami in their playing eleven. Bhuvi can swing the ball both ways early on in the innings and that’s how he gets most of his wickets.
With his increased pace, Bhuvneshwar will be a lethal force on the Australian tracks. In the absence of David Warner, the opening duties on <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/shane-warne-slams-victoria-for-not-letting-aaron-finch-open-the-batting/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aaron Finch’s</a> shoulders are heavy as ever. Finch is a game changer who has the ability to take the game away from the opposition in a matter of a few sessions.
<figure id="attachment_274565" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-274565" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-274565" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Bhuvneshwar-Kumar-1.jpg" alt="Bhuvneshwar Kumar of Indi" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-274565" class="wp-caption-text">Bhuvneshwar Kumar of India. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Although these two haven’t faced each other yet, in Tests, Bhuvneshwar holds the upper hand against the Australian limited-overs captain. Bhuvi has dismissed Finch on numerous occasions in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2019-five-overseas-players-who-might-go-unsold-in-the-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IPL</a>. In fact, Finch was dismissed by Bhuvneshwar in the recently concluded second T20I in the three-match series.
Finch has a tendency to keep his legs planted to the crease early on in his innings which makes him vulnerable to the one that comes in. So far, Bhuvaneshwar has exploited his shortcoming very well and it remains to be seen if he can repeat the same in red-ball cricket.

<h3>Nathan Lyon vs Ravichandran Ashwin</h3>
<figure id="attachment_199692" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-199692" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-199692" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Nathan-Lyon-3.jpg" alt="Nathan Lyon" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-199692" class="wp-caption-text">Nathan Lyon of Australia is congratulated by teammates. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Let’s face it, this is one of the most underrated rivalries. Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin will battle it out again, perhaps for one final time in a bid to become the best off-spinner in the world. Their performance would settle the dust once and for all.
Australian tracks are pacer-friendly and the quicks are bound to get wickets. However, day four and day five are likely to get the spinners into the game and they, more or less, will dominate the proceedings. With both of these high-quality spinners on show, we are in for an intense spin duel.
In 64 Tests that Ashwin has played, he has picked up 336 wickets and Nathan Lyon, on the other hand, has 318 scalps to his name in the 80 Tests that he played. While the stats suggest that Ashwin is definitely better than Lyon, they do not tell the full story. When it comes to performance away from home, Lyon pips Ashwin in this department.
Ashwin’s struggles away from home are well known but one could cite flat and pacer friendly tracks as the reason for his indifferent show. However, Ashwin was highly inconsistent in the away series against England apart from the first Test. Performance at home is more often than not, underrated but that counts too.
<figure id="attachment_278263" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-278263" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-278263" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravichandran-Ashwin-1.jpg" alt="Ravichandran Ashwin" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-278263" class="wp-caption-text">Ravichandran Ashwin of India. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Out of 64 Tests, Ashwin has played 25 Tests away from home and has picked up 102 scalps at an average of 31.78. However, the numbers drastically change when Ashwin is bowling at home. In 39 Test at home, Ashwin has 234 wickets to his name at an average of 22.69.
When it comes to <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/nathan-lyon-still-bullish-about-his-world-cup-chances/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nathan Lyon</a>, he has got more wickets away than home. In 43 matches abroad, Lyon has got 179 wickets and at a slightly better average of 31.08. At home, Lyon has 139 wickets at an average of 33.75. Nathan holds an impressive record against India. 58 wickets, which is the most for any bowler and Nathan also has 3 seven-wicket hauls to his name (most by any bowler against India). His strike rate of 50.9 is the second best among the bowlers who have picked up 25 plus wickets against India.
The main difference between these two players is the ability to bat. Ashwin is a better batsman than Lyon and he likes to call himself an “all-rounder” and rightly so. In 64 Tests,&nbsp; Ashwin has amassed 2331 runs at an average of 29.51. Lyon, on the other hand, has got on 839 runs in 80 Tests at a paltry average of 11.65.
With Ashwin expected to play a big role with the bat as well, this rivalry is bound to get interesting and we should cherish the fact that we are getting to see two of the greatest off-spinners of the modern era having a go at each other, perhaps for one last time.

<h3>Nathan Lyon vs Chiteshwar Pujara</h3>
<figure id="attachment_277587" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-277587" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-277587" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Cheteshwar-Pujara-hundred.jpg" alt="Cheteshwar Pujara hundred" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-277587" class="wp-caption-text">India batsman Cheteshwa Pujara celebrates his century. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
India’s premier number 3 player will look to take on the greatest Australian off-spinner from the word go. Lyon has dismissed Pujara on numerous occasions and these two share a rivalry of their own. Pujara has got a lot to prove after an unsatisfactory show in England.
These two players have got a little bit of rivalry of their own and Lyon holds a very good record against the Indian number three. In 15 innings, Lyon has dismissed Pujara 5 times, giving only 281 runs. Not to mention, Nathan also holds a very good record against Kohli as well as Rahane (dismissing them 5 times each, as well).
While the 30-year-old’s performance is the key to get a well-built platform for the middle-order to capitalize on, Lyon will look to get the better of him. This is a battle to watch out for.

<h3>Mitchell Starc vs KL Rahul</h3>
<figure id="attachment_290460" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-290460" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-290460" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/KL-Rahul-1.jpg" alt="KL Rahul" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-290460" class="wp-caption-text">KL Rahul. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
To be blunt, this will be a make or break series for the Indian youngster. So far in his short international career, Rahul hasn’t been able to fulfil the promise that he showed us when he made his debut against Australia. KL has been largely inconsistent in his role as an opener and that is not acceptable when India are playing overseas. While the Indian bowling attack has been doing its job consistently, it’s the constant failure of the openers that has put the middle-order under severe pressure.
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/australia-vs-india-mitchell-starc-called-up-for-the-t20i-series-decider/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitchell Starc</a> is the best Australian bowler and is certainly one of the quickest going around, if not the quickest. Starc with the new ball is as deadly as a time bomb ready to go off! He can swing the ball both ways and his yorkers are the toughest to deal with, early on in the innings. It would be a sin if I don’t mention how quick Starc is, with his shorter deliveries.
<figure id="attachment_259201" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-259201" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-259201" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mitchell-Starc.jpg" alt="Mitchell Starc" width="640" height="399" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-259201" class="wp-caption-text">Mitchell Starc. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
KL Rahul’s flaws against the moving ball were exposed in the tough conditions of England. The fourth and fifth stump line is what troubles Rahul. The sudden incoming delivery can also clean him up. Even though there’s not much of movement in Australia, the new ball swings, pretty much in any condition. In 2018, KL has only managed to amass 420 runs at an average of 24.71.
Even though Rahul averages 33.21 away from home, he has struggled with inconsistent performances of late. Starc has managed to dismiss him only once in the 6 innings that they have faced off. The left-armer will look to exploit Rahul’s weakness and the batsman will look to fulfil his potential against a strong Australian bowling attack.

<h3>Mitchell Starc vs Virat Kohli</h3>
<figure id="attachment_275512" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-275512" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-275512" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-celebration-1.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-275512" class="wp-caption-text">India batsman Virat Kohli celebrates reaching his century. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The two stalwarts will be up against each other after a very long time. Starc’s battler against Kohli can be termed as a replacement for <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mitchell-johnson-wants-australia-to-back-shaun-marsh-for-india-test-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitchell Johnson</a> and Kohli. The 30-year-old averages a staggering 58.29 away from home and that’s quite remarkable. Starc and Kohli were teammates for RCB back in 2015 and Starc knows how to see his former teammates back.
Starc and Kohli have gone against each other in 13 innings so far and he has dismissed Kohli twice. The Australian plan of attack would be pretty simple. They will look to get Virat early with the help of Mitchell Starc with the new ball. The away swinger in the corridor of uncertainty around 4th and 5th stump line is still a bit of a problem for Virat and that was evident when the batter was dismissed for a golden duck by Stuart Broad.
The 28-year-old left-arm quick will look to capitalise into the minor chink in Kohli’s technique. Kohli, on the flip side, will look to counter-attack Starc as that’s the best way to put the pressure back on any bowler. The best batsman in the world will look to cement his number one spot against a formidable Australian pace battery. The way Virat handles Starc will prove to be decisive in the outcome of this series.
Border-Gavaskar series 2018 will be a great exhibition for Test cricket and these are the 5 player battles that could decide the owner of the coveted trophy. However, the question that still remains is that does <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/australia-vs-india-2018-3rd-t20i-best-memes-of-the-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India</a> have it in them to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy, away from home?
~ Written by Daiwik Tadikonda
<h4>Get the latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/">Cricket News&nbsp;</a>and updates<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/tag/slveng">,</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-match-predictions/">Match Predictions</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/fantasy-cricket-tips/">Fantasy Cricket Tips&nbsp;</a>and lots more on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/">CricTracker.com</a>.</h4>

The 2017 Border-Gavaskar series was a hard fought one and we witnessed many heated, intense and competitive battles. To be honest, the iconic series lost it&#8217;s flair and became a bit too one-sided during the 2008-12 time frame. However, things changed when a young <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/learn-from-virat-kohli-sourav-ganguly-suggests-rishabh-pant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virat Kohli</a> took the battle to the Aussies on their turf, not to mention, he was handed over the reins following a shock retirement by MS Dhoni after the third Test.
Although the hosts won the series, by a margin of 2-0, the series was much closer than what the scoreline suggested and that&#8217;s because a relatively inexperienced Indian team failed to cash in on the huge game-changing moments. That series of 14-15 was a revolutionary one for the Indian side and currently, they are the number one ranked Test team. In 2017, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/australia-vs-india-2018-3rd-t20i-statistical-highlights/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India</a> won the series by a close margin of 2-1.
However, the unforgettable series of 2017, reignited some old memories and added a bit of fuel to the existing one. Even though the hosts are battling with the absence of their two stalwarts in the batting line-up, they are very much threatening at home and with the crowds expected to be hostile towards the touring side, we are bound to witness some insane on-field duels.
Let&#8217;s have a look at the 5 key player battles that could decide the outcome of this year&#8217;s Border-Gavaskar series.
<h3>Aaron Finch vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar</h3>
<figure id="attachment_285345" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-285345" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-285345" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Aaron-Finch.jpg" alt="Aaron Finch" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-285345" class="wp-caption-text">Aaron Finch. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Bhuvneshwar is back in the Test squad and he will be leading the bowling attack for India. The visiting team is likely to go with Ishant, Bhuvneshwar, Jasprit Bumrah and possibly, Mohammed Shami in their playing eleven. Bhuvi can swing the ball both ways early on in the innings and that&#8217;s how he gets most of his wickets.
With his increased pace, Bhuvneshwar will be a lethal force on the Australian tracks. In the absence of David Warner, the opening duties on <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/shane-warne-slams-victoria-for-not-letting-aaron-finch-open-the-batting/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aaron Finch&#8217;s</a> shoulders are heavy as ever. Finch is a game changer who has the ability to take the game away from the opposition in a matter of a few sessions.
<figure id="attachment_274565" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-274565" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-274565" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Bhuvneshwar-Kumar-1.jpg" alt="Bhuvneshwar Kumar of Indi" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-274565" class="wp-caption-text">Bhuvneshwar Kumar of India. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Although these two haven&#8217;t faced each other yet, in Tests, Bhuvneshwar holds the upper hand against the Australian limited-overs captain. Bhuvi has dismissed Finch on numerous occasions in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2019-five-overseas-players-who-might-go-unsold-in-the-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IPL</a>. In fact, Finch was dismissed by Bhuvneshwar in the recently concluded second T20I in the three-match series.
Finch has a tendency to keep his legs planted to the crease early on in his innings which makes him vulnerable to the one that comes in. So far, Bhuvaneshwar has exploited his shortcoming very well and it remains to be seen if he can repeat the same in red-ball cricket.

<h3>Nathan Lyon vs Ravichandran Ashwin</h3>
<figure id="attachment_199692" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-199692" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-199692" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Nathan-Lyon-3.jpg" alt="Nathan Lyon" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-199692" class="wp-caption-text">Nathan Lyon of Australia is congratulated by teammates. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Let&#8217;s face it, this is one of the most underrated rivalries. Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin will battle it out again, perhaps for one final time in a bid to become the best off-spinner in the world. Their performance would settle the dust once and for all.
Australian tracks are pacer-friendly and the quicks are bound to get wickets. However, day four and day five are likely to get the spinners into the game and they, more or less, will dominate the proceedings. With both of these high-quality spinners on show, we are in for an intense spin duel.
In 64 Tests that Ashwin has played, he has picked up 336 wickets and Nathan Lyon, on the other hand, has 318 scalps to his name in the 80 Tests that he played. While the stats suggest that Ashwin is definitely better than Lyon, they do not tell the full story. When it comes to performance away from home, Lyon pips Ashwin in this department.
Ashwin&#8217;s struggles away from home are well known but one could cite flat and pacer friendly tracks as the reason for his indifferent show. However, Ashwin was highly inconsistent in the away series against England apart from the first Test. Performance at home is more often than not, underrated but that counts too.
<figure id="attachment_278263" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-278263" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-278263" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravichandran-Ashwin-1.jpg" alt="Ravichandran Ashwin" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-278263" class="wp-caption-text">Ravichandran Ashwin of India. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Out of 64 Tests, Ashwin has played 25 Tests away from home and has picked up 102 scalps at an average of 31.78. However, the numbers drastically change when Ashwin is bowling at home. In 39 Test at home, Ashwin has 234 wickets to his name at an average of 22.69.
When it comes to <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/nathan-lyon-still-bullish-about-his-world-cup-chances/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nathan Lyon</a>, he has got more wickets away than home. In 43 matches abroad, Lyon has got 179 wickets and at a slightly better average of 31.08. At home, Lyon has 139 wickets at an average of 33.75. Nathan holds an impressive record against India. 58 wickets, which is the most for any bowler and Nathan also has 3 seven-wicket hauls to his name (most by any bowler against India). His strike rate of 50.9 is the second best among the bowlers who have picked up 25 plus wickets against India.
The main difference between these two players is the ability to bat. Ashwin is a better batsman than Lyon and he likes to call himself an &#8220;all-rounder&#8221; and rightly so. In 64 Tests,  Ashwin has amassed 2331 runs at an average of 29.51. Lyon, on the other hand, has got on 839 runs in 80 Tests at a paltry average of 11.65.
With Ashwin expected to play a big role with the bat as well, this rivalry is bound to get interesting and we should cherish the fact that we are getting to see two of the greatest off-spinners of the modern era having a go at each other, perhaps for one last time.

<h3>Nathan Lyon vs Chiteshwar Pujara</h3>
<figure id="attachment_277587" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-277587" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-277587" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Cheteshwar-Pujara-hundred.jpg" alt="Cheteshwar Pujara hundred" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-277587" class="wp-caption-text">India batsman Cheteshwa Pujara celebrates his century. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
India&#8217;s premier number 3 player will look to take on the greatest Australian off-spinner from the word go. Lyon has dismissed Pujara on numerous occasions and these two share a rivalry of their own. Pujara has got a lot to prove after an unsatisfactory show in England.
These two players have got a little bit of rivalry of their own and Lyon holds a very good record against the Indian number three. In 15 innings, Lyon has dismissed Pujara 5 times, giving only 281 runs. Not to mention, Nathan also holds a very good record against Kohli as well as Rahane (dismissing them 5 times each, as well).
While the 30-year-old&#8217;s performance is the key to get a well-built platform for the middle-order to capitalize on, Lyon will look to get the better of him. This is a battle to watch out for.

<h3>Mitchell Starc vs KL Rahul</h3>
<figure id="attachment_290460" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-290460" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-290460" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/KL-Rahul-1.jpg" alt="KL Rahul" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-290460" class="wp-caption-text">KL Rahul. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
To be blunt, this will be a make or break series for the Indian youngster. So far in his short international career, Rahul hasn&#8217;t been able to fulfil the promise that he showed us when he made his debut against Australia. KL has been largely inconsistent in his role as an opener and that is not acceptable when India are playing overseas. While the Indian bowling attack has been doing its job consistently, it&#8217;s the constant failure of the openers that has put the middle-order under severe pressure.
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/australia-vs-india-mitchell-starc-called-up-for-the-t20i-series-decider/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitchell Starc</a> is the best Australian bowler and is certainly one of the quickest going around, if not the quickest. Starc with the new ball is as deadly as a time bomb ready to go off! He can swing the ball both ways and his yorkers are the toughest to deal with, early on in the innings. It would be a sin if I don&#8217;t mention how quick Starc is, with his shorter deliveries.
<figure id="attachment_259201" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-259201" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-259201" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mitchell-Starc.jpg" alt="Mitchell Starc" width="640" height="399" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-259201" class="wp-caption-text">Mitchell Starc. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
KL Rahul&#8217;s flaws against the moving ball were exposed in the tough conditions of England. The fourth and fifth stump line is what troubles Rahul. The sudden incoming delivery can also clean him up. Even though there&#8217;s not much of movement in Australia, the new ball swings, pretty much in any condition. In 2018, KL has only managed to amass 420 runs at an average of 24.71.
Even though Rahul averages 33.21 away from home, he has struggled with inconsistent performances of late. Starc has managed to dismiss him only once in the 6 innings that they have faced off. The left-armer will look to exploit Rahul&#8217;s weakness and the batsman will look to fulfil his potential against a strong Australian bowling attack.

<h3>Mitchell Starc vs Virat Kohli</h3>
<figure id="attachment_275512" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-275512" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-275512" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-celebration-1.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-275512" class="wp-caption-text">India batsman Virat Kohli celebrates reaching his century. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The two stalwarts will be up against each other after a very long time. Starc&#8217;s battler against Kohli can be termed as a replacement for <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mitchell-johnson-wants-australia-to-back-shaun-marsh-for-india-test-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitchell Johnson</a> and Kohli. The 30-year-old averages a staggering 58.29 away from home and that&#8217;s quite remarkable. Starc and Kohli were teammates for RCB back in 2015 and Starc knows how to see his former teammates back.
Starc and Kohli have gone against each other in 13 innings so far and he has dismissed Kohli twice. The Australian plan of attack would be pretty simple. They will look to get Virat early with the help of Mitchell Starc with the new ball. The away swinger in the corridor of uncertainty around 4th and 5th stump line is still a bit of a problem for Virat and that was evident when the batter was dismissed for a golden duck by Stuart Broad.
The 28-year-old left-arm quick will look to capitalise into the minor chink in Kohli&#8217;s technique. Kohli, on the flip side, will look to counter-attack Starc as that&#8217;s the best way to put the pressure back on any bowler. The best batsman in the world will look to cement his number one spot against a formidable Australian pace battery. The way Virat handles Starc will prove to be decisive in the outcome of this series.
Border-Gavaskar series 2018 will be a great exhibition for Test cricket and these are the 5 player battles that could decide the owner of the coveted trophy. However, the question that still remains is that does <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/australia-vs-india-2018-3rd-t20i-best-memes-of-the-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India</a> have it in them to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy, away from home?
~ Written by Daiwik Tadikonda
<h4>Get the latest <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/">Cricket News </a>and updates<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/tag/slveng">,</a> <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-match-predictions/">Match Predictions</a>, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/fantasy-cricket-tips/">Fantasy Cricket Tips </a>and lots more on <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/">CricTracker.com</a>.</h4>

The four-match series is expected to be a closely-fought one.

Australia vs India: Five intriguing face-offs to look out for in the Test series

He was handed over the reins following a shock retirement by MS Dhoni after the first test, which resulted in an Australia win.