‘They Have Three Important Players’: Sachin Tendulkar Names Biggest Threat to India Ahead of Australian Test Run

With less than a week to get for the first of the four Tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, all the talk is around the possible playing XI of both India and Australia for the historic pink-ball day-night Test match in Adelaide.

Many former cricketers have already given their opinion on the possible playing XI, best batsman and bowlers of both teams. Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer and legend Sachin Tendulkar is the new addition to the list. Master Blaster has recently opened up on the ‘three Australian batsmen’, India should be careful of in the upcoming Test series against the hosts.

Sachin said the current Australian side is a lot “stronger” in the presence of leading batsmen David Warner and Steve Smith. Another Australian batsman who Sachin thinks can give a lot of problems even to the strong Indian bowling line-up is Marnus Labuschagne.

In 2018-19, Border-Gavaskar Test Series played between India and Australia, Steve Smith, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne were not part of the Australian team. While Smith and Warner were facing sanctions for ball-tampering, Labuschagne did not even make his Test debut. The Indian team won the series 2–1 on that tour.

“From the last time that Australia played India they have got three important players. They have got Warner who is back in the team, Smith and (Marnus) Labuschagne,” Tendulkar told AFP.

“This is a far better squad compared to the earlier one. When a couple of your senior members are not there, suddenly that void is felt and that is what Australia felt,” Tendulkar added.

At the same time, Tendulkar also lauded the bowling attack of the visitors and said that India’s bowling attack led by the fiery Jasprit Bumrah and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is also stronger and can challenge Australia.

“Every era should be kept separate, I don’t like comparing,” he said when asked if this was the strongest attack India has produced.

“But I can say that it (India) is a complete bowling attack. So it doesn’t matter what kind of surface you are playing on, you have got all sides covered. You have got bowlers who can swing the ball. When it comes to variations and awkwardness, that is also there.

“Someone hitting the deck hard is also there. We have got a wrist spinner, we have got finger spinners,” he added.