India, Australia to test firepower before next year’s T20 World Cup

Both Gambhir and McDonald back all-out aggression in series starting today

- Somshuvra Laha

The recent spate of one-sided results validates the theory that India-Pakistan isn’ta top rivalry anymore. England have come up several notches but even they were comprehensively beaten at home earlier this year.

With Australia however, a rivalry has slowly evolved that tends to keep you on the edge of your seat, home or away. In Tests definitely, but also in T20 purely because of the brevity of the format and the unpredictability it entails. Which is why the five-match series, beginning in Canberra on Wednesday, is poised to be a powerplay to the T20 World Cup a few months down the line.

India are No.l, Australia No.3. This series is in Australia, while India will defend their T20 World Cup at home. But the difference in conditions won't matter as much as the way they play their cricket, which has been remarkably similar in recent years that even the most astute analysts would be prone to calling this series too close to call. Central to this is how India and Australia have pushed the boundaries of batting despite losing a few batting stars.