Both India and Australia are ready to challenge each other in the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy as the first match will be taking place from Thursday in Nagpur. Both teams have geared up to challenge each other. The Indian wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik feels Virat Kohli and Steve Smith are the two crucial batters for their respective sides in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Karthik picked his five main players for the series in his Instagram reel where he said, ” The first two are obvious choices Virat Kohli for India and Steve Smith for Australia. Virat Kohli mainly because when he gets going he makes it big and he is always troubling the Australians.”

“On the other hand, very similarly Steven Smith has got plenty of runs against India and is arguably Australia’s best batter against spin. If Australia want to create a dent in the series it has to be from Steven Smith’s plate” he added.

Virat Kohli has made 1682 runs at an average of 48.06 in 20 Test matches against Australia and has also scored seven centuries against them. On the other hand, the Australian vice-captain Smith has 1742 runs in his kitty at an average of 72.58 with eight centuries against the hosts.

Speaking about the spinners, Karthik said, “For me, this series is all about spinners with two best spinners on both sides. R Ashwin for India has a massive mental edge over Australia and Nathan Lyon for Australia, if he gets going he is definitely gonna be a thorn in India’s flesh.”

The Indian off-spinner has scalped 89 wickets against Australia at an average of 31.48 from 18 matches while the Aussie has just 94 wickets from 22 games at an average of 34.76.

Karthik also talked about Shreyas Iyer and said “The last for me is a very critical player. According to me I feel India will definitely play on tracks that aid spin and Shreyas Iyer is someone who plays spin beautifully. If he gets going, especially against spin, he can hit a ball a long way and cause a lot of trouble”.

Iyer will not be playing in the first Test as he is out with an injury.

“So for India to do well in the series, two key batters for me are gonna be Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer” Karthik signed off.