Mission BGT on for determined Aussies before home summer

IN a little over two weeks, some of India's leading red-ball cricketers, sans the big three of Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, will assemble in Bengaluru to play in the opening round of the Duleep Trophy.

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN

While Kohli and Sharma will, in all likelihood, be back for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, the word on the street is that Bumrah may be given a longer break. Expect him to be back for the three Tests against New Zealand in October. Likewise, the other regulars of the squad will all be primed and ready by the time the Kiwis land on these shores in the second week of October.

But the five Tests at home will only act as an aperitif. The entree, make no mistake, will be the five Tests in Australia. And India do have a proud record to defend. In isolation, they don't hand out ICC titles for bilateral Test series but the record of not having lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, either home or away, since 2014-15 should be a badge of honour.