Clash of the Titans. A place in the World Test Championship Final. Top rank in the Test rankings. Scores to settle with the old enemy. Yes! The 2023 Border Gavaskar Trophy carries a lot of narratives and promises to be an exciting bouquet of cricket, drama and entertaining player battles. BRING IT ON.

One of the many reasons for Indian and us MI fans to cheer about is that Aapla dada SKY could make his much-anticipated Test debut. Following record exploits in the ODI and T20I formats, Suryakumar Yadav walks and would be poised to replicate his successes from white-ball cricket into red-ball cricket.

Our captain, our ‘Hitman’, Rohit Sharma, will take charge of his first Test assignment against the mighty Australians, while Ishan Kishan joins as the injured Rishabh Pant’s replacement. He might be in the opposition camp, and he may be injured for the first Test, but Cameron Green, our latest recruit for IPL 2023, is another one we cannot wait to see in action!

What: India vs Australia, four-match Test series

When: First Test: February 9-13; Second Test: February 17-21; Third Test: March 1-5; Fourth Test: March 9-13

Where: Nagpur (first Test), Delhi (second Test), Dharamsala (third Test), Ahmedabad (fourth Test)

What to expect: In home Tests, we are unbeaten since 2012. Given our batting and bowling talents, expect a box office show in India’s first Test assignment of the 2023 calendar. There’s a lot at stake, and trust both teams to put on a proper show.

Paltan, it is time. Grab your friends, and get your stock of refreshments. Find a place to watch the games, sit back, relax and let Team India give you the thrill and entertainment.

India vs Australia: Numbers Talk

Head-to-head record (matches)

Head-to-head record (Bilateral Series)

Head-to-head record (in India)

Highest run-scorers

Highest wicket-takers

Most wins as captain

Squads

India (first Two Tests): Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.

Australia: Pat Cummins (Captain), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (Vice-Captain), Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner