‘I think it should be 3-0’ – India batter makes bold scoreline prediction for BGT 2023

India will be hosting Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 with the first Test scheduled to begin in Nagpur on Thursday, February 9. Australia have come up short in the last three Test series against India, with India all three times.

With two days left for the series to begin, India cricketer Abhinav Mukund made his predictions for the four-match Test series. The former India opener feels Australia will not be able to win a single match in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He said that India might win the series 3-0. Although he feels that the Aussies might not win the series, they might win, at the most, one match if they are lucky.

“I think it should be 3-0. I am just giving the benefit of the doubt. I don’t think Australia will win even one Test. If they are lucky they might just end up winning one but I think it will be 3-0” Mukund was quoted as saying by Sportskeeda.

Steve Smith and Ravi Ashwin will be the highest run-getter and successful bowler respectively: Mukund

The Tamil Nadu cricketer who has played seven Test matches for India, expects Australia’s Steve Smith and India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to be the highest run-getter and the most successful bowler respectively in the series. With 499 runs to his name, Smith was the highest run-scorer in the Test series against India in 2017. Ashwin, on the other hand, was the second-highest wicket-taker in that series with 21 scalps. Allrounder Ravindra Jadeja was on the top with a tally of 25 wickets.

“Steve Smith – great record versus India, I think it should be him who will get a lot of runs, I am guessing he will get the most runs, otherwise, I don’t think anything will go right for Australia. Most wickets – Ashwin, too many left-handers, he is just coming too well prepared. Tough fight from Jadeja but I think Ashwin will get the most wickets,” he added.

Along with Mukund, other experts also made their predictions on the series. Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra also feels that the hosts will win the series. He also expects Ashwin to be the most successful bowler of the series.

“Most wickets – it is a simple story – Ravichandran Ashwin, Ash for win. He will pick up a lot of wickets – more than 23 wickets in four matches, and India to win either 3-0 or 3-1. Australia will win not win more than one match, I am convinced,” he said.