Ravi Shastri’s Test Series Predictions

AUS vs IND Cricket Picks & Boxing Day Test Predictions

International cricket always stirs emotions, especially Test match cricket. Despite the nuances of the red-ball cricket, there is always drama whenever the Australians and Team India collide.

Australian conditions are much quicker, and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is the prize at stake for this coveted Test match series. Pitting together two of the best teams against each other in Test cricket will warm the soul during the dark winter months.

Stake ambassador Ravi Shastri has shared his thoughts on the Test series. We will provide predictions and discuss the different cricket betting markets available on Stake Sportsbook.

India’s Tour of Australia 2024/25 Overview

India are embarking on another trip to Australia, and the result could determine whether they book their spot in next summer’s Test Championship.

Currently second in the ICC Test rankings, India has struggled recently. They were whitewashed in New Zealand (3-0), and question marks have been placed over the veterans.

A win against Australia wouldn’t go amiss, and with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the line, the likes of Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj, and Washington Sundar will want to deliver the goods Down Under.

Australia, on the other hand, have a strong bowling attack, led by Mitchell Starc, who will benefit from the ultra-quick conditions. We have provided the dates and venues for the five-match Test series.

Ravi Shastri’s Boxing Day Test Predictions

Ravi Shastri’s standing in Test cricket is undoubted. As the former Indian head coach, and currently working as a commentator, he is well-placed to give his thoughts on one of the eagerly-anticipated sports events of the year.

He is known for being forthright and he has given his honest views on how the five-match Test series might unfold, starting with the Indian team.

We asked Shastri, who previously made predictions for the T20 World Cup, to give some expert insight.

With the series tied at 1-1 ahead of the Boxing Day Test, Shastri has emphasised the significance of this moment in the context of the series, particularly with India's challenging road ahead.

"[This is] massive. They would give anything for a 1-1 result..."

"The first Test is in Perth, the second Test is a day-nighter in Adelaide, and then the third Test in Brisbane. Any overseas team will...settle for a 1-1 score because come Melbourne, come Sydney, I think India will be powerful."

"India's confidence heading into Melbourne is palpable. Despite being pushed to the brink in the third Test, Shastri believes that India now finds themselves in a strong position."

"They have been kept in this series single-handedly by Jasprit Bumrah."

"If the big boys wake up, and step up to the plate which I just get the gut feeling they will, then Australia has a problem on their hands. Yeah, they got out of jail but they are not on bail. They are free birds in Melbourne. They can do what they want and come and attack Australia on Boxing Day."

Picks to Win The Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Inevitably, there will be a moment of magic or inspiration that could decide the series.

However, India has a great record Down Under, winning each of the past four series, and that includes the last two in Australia. Australia’s last victory came in 2014/15 where they won 2-0.

While Australia was trading as the favourites with Stake before the start of the series, they may have to fend off the likes of Akash Deep and Mohammed Shami, who recently returned to the fold, to get on top.

Apart from India being good value to claim a third straight series win Down Under, Rishabh Pant or Yashasvi Jaiswal could end up being the top batter of the series. The Australian bowling coach will be keen to emphasise the need for his bowlers not to stray far from the desired line and length.

Best Markets to Bet on for AUS vs IND Test Series

Sports betting can be challenging. For those who want to bet on cricket, in particular this series, searching for value is essential. In this section, we have revealed the most popular betting lines to nail Australia vs India match predictions:

• Outright - The outright betting market will be available weeks or months before the start of the series, and bettors will have to guess which side will take the win. This line is like futures betting.

• Handicaps - Handicap betting is like a spread which tries to level out the playing field. The favourites will be assigned a minus (-) line. For the run line if India are -100.5 runs favourite, they would have to win by more than 100 lines for you to return a winning wager.

• In-play betting - Live betting has taken off. You can wager on a wide range of markets as a match unfolds, and the odds change. When it comes to live betting vs pre-match betting, live betting is more innovative.

• Bet builders - A same-game bet builder allows you to assemble multiple picks onto one slip, and the odds are higher. All picks must land to win, and you can wager on actual cricket games or a simulated reality league.

• Props - Prop bets are performance-focused. You could bet on a team or player here, such as Virat Kohli to score at least a century in an innings.

For more helpful tips, you can check out our expert predictions on the AUS vs IND Test Series, or go back to the basics with our cricket betting guide or ultimate guide to sports betting!

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