Ravi Shastri picks young batter and ace pacer as India's X-factors for BGT 2024-25

Former Indian all-rounder Ravi Shastri picked young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah as the x-factor players for India in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy down under. While Jaiswal has never played an international game in Australia, Bumrah was part of the Indian side that won back-to-back Test series in 2018-19 and 2020-21.

The ace pacer will also captain the side in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma in the series opener in Perth, starting November 22.

Talking to the ICC about India's key players for the upcoming Australian series, Shastri said:

"Jaiswal at the top because if he gets in, he can be devastating. You know he plays spin very well, he plays at his own tempo, he's got all the shots in the book. He's an entertainer so if he gets in as we've seen in his career already you know he has the ability to get the big scores. You don't hit two consecutive double hundreds you know just like that, you've got to have the hunger you have to have the quality and the ability."

The southpaw has made a blistering start to his Test career with an average of over 56, including three centuries in 14 outings.

Shastri also picked Bumrah as India's other x-factor player, while adding Aussie skipper Pat Cummins as one of Australia's key players.

"I think Jasprit, no question. Because he's the best fast bowler in the world. There's no question about that. And likewise for Australia, will be (Pat) Cummins (who will dominate). These are the top two bowlers who are on either side. And you'd expect him at this stage of his career, where at times he makes the ball talk, to be the highest wicket-taker," he stated.

Bumrah boasts an outstanding record with the ball in Tests down under, picking up 32 wickets in seven matches at an average of 21.25.

Meanwhile, Cummins has also been highly successful against India, averaging 26.18 in 13 Tests.

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Ravi Shastri picks Australia's key players for BGT 2024-25

Australia v West Indies - Men's 2nd Test: Day 3 - Source: Getty

Ravi Shastri picked Nathan Lyon along with Pat Cummins as the bowlers that could do the most damage to India in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Lyon is the all-time leading wicket-taker in India-Australia Tests with 121 scalps at an average of 31.56 in 27 games.

"Pat Cummins will be at you. He's relentless. I mean, don't take your eye off Nathan Lyon because he has a fantastic record against India, both at home and away. So he'll be someone to watch but Pat Cummins, because if Australia have to damage early doors and then later on, it will be Cummins," said Shastri.

The former Indian coach also picked legendary batter Steve Smith as a key player for Australia by saying:

"Steve Smith because of his experience, because of his past record and he's at that stage of his career where he needs a challenge. He needs a challenge and I think he'll be up for it. It could be his final series against India, so that's another way to look at it. And just seeing his form in that couple of games against Pakistan makes me think in that fashion."

“He looked good. He had time, he got into good positions to play shots. And it's again, with these players, the Kohlis, the Smiths, it's how you start. In the first three innings of the series, if he gets away with 100, then they'll keep badgering you. I think India will have to come hard, they'll have to be tight and they'll have to keep the pressure on. They have to be relentless with Smith early," Shastri added.

Smith has enjoyed incredible success with the bat against India in Tests, scoring over 2,000 runs in 19 matches at an average of 65.87, including nine centuries.