As the cricket world gears up for the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, predictions and mind games have already begun.

The high-profile series is set to be held towards the end of the year down in Australia. 

Ricky Ponting, the legendary former Australian captain, has stirred the pot by predicting a 3-1 series win for Australia. This bold forecast has sparked reactions from cricket experts, including former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali.

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Known for his straightforward opinions, Basit Ali has weighed in on Ponting’s prediction and offered his own take on the upcoming series.

What did Basit Ali say on Ricky Ponting’s India vs Australia predictions?

Reacting to Ponting’s prediction, Basit Ali highlighted that Australians often make such statements to get inside the heads of their opponents before a big series.

“Ricky Ponting has said Australia will beat India 3-1. It is a big statement. Australians have a habit of playing mind games. The Indian players and coaches know these mind games very well. India have won the last two Border-Gavaskar series in Australia. There is not much difference between that time and this time, in my opinion,” said Basit in a recent YouTube video.

“I know Australians really well. They have a habit of making such statements. Australia can beat India 5-0 only if India are without Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, Rohit, Virat, and Jaiswal,” he added.

India’s dominance over Australia in recent years

India has had the upper hand in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in recent years. They won the last four editions, including two historic series wins on Australian soil.

The upcoming series is particularly special as it will be the first time in over three decades that the two teams will compete in a five-match Test series. The last time they faced off in a five-match series was in 1991-92, and since then, India has grown strong in Test cricket, especially in overseas conditions.

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The stage is set for Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with both teams aiming to bring their A-game to the field. While Ricky Ponting’s 3-1 prediction adds to the pre-series excitement, Basit Ali’s remarks serve as a reminder of India’s recent dominance against Australia.

As the series unfolds, cricket fans will be watching to see if Ponting’s prediction comes true or if India continues their winning streak in the Border-Gavaskar trophy.