Sunil Gavaskar picks the Australian bowler who could be a major threat to India in BGT 2023

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar thinks Australia skipper Pat Cummins would be a big threat to Indian batters in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is scheduled to begin on February 9 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur.

The second series of the match will be played in Delhi on February 17, the third one will be played in Dharamshala on March 1, and the final tTest will be played in Ahmedabad on March 9. Cummins is currently the world’s number-one Test bowler, and he finished the last series against India back in 2020-21 as the leading wicket-taker of the series.

It is their pace attack that has done the damage: Sunil Gavaskar

“If memory serves right, the first time he took a five-wicket haul was in the subcontinent (5/34 on debut vs Sri Lanka in Galle, August 2011). Being the top bowler that Lyon is, he will always be attacking and probing, but the real threat is likely to be the pacers. Cummins is a terrific bowler, and, as we have seen in the past when the Australians are successful, it is their pace attack that has done the damage,” Gavaskar told The Telegraph in an interview.

The Indian legend feels that Josh Hazelwood’s absence will be a plus point for Men in Blue. Aussie’s star all-rounder Cameron Green is also set to miss the first Test as he is recovering from a finger injury that he got while playing against South Africa. He is the third Australian to miss the first Test due to an injury. Earlier speedsters Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood were ruled out of the first match because of their respective injuries.

“When the Australians are successful, it is their pace attack that has done the damage. With Josh Hazlewood likely to miss the first Test with an injury, the advantage could well lie with India. Both are superb teams and in cricket, you cannot predict. But, as always, the home side starts with an advantage with the crowd support, awareness of ground, weather, and pitch conditions” asserted the right-hand batter.