Cricket Test Series: What is to Come During the India Versus Australia Matchup?
In a game that is as diverse as modern-day cricket, there is always something going on around the world. Despite it not being a sport that is played everywhere, it still manages to draw a lot of attention and excitement especially when some of the best teams are playing. And it does not get better than a test series between traditional rivals of India and Australia. At the moment, they are playing in their 1st Test Series that started on November 24 and will last until the 26. Played at Perth Stadium, the Aussies have the home advantage but that does not always mean much when the best teams are playing.
In this article, we examine this series as well as the subsequent matchups between these old rivals. India and Australia are countries where cricket is dominant, a national sport even. Therefore, it is always important for the global appeal of the game and for the sports betting side of things when they meet. If you are interested in the sport and want to try your luck with betting, continue reading for some of the freshest cricket odds so that you have all the information before deciding which bets to make. Even if you are just a fan of sports in general this is a great way to expand your horizons and get involved in something brand new.
The AUS vs IND Test Cricket Match Series
Right from the get-go, there were a lot of storylines surrounding this meeting. Test cricket is probably the purest form of the game that has already gone through a lot of changes. The onset popularity of the T20 variety means that the traditional type of game is played less and less. It is important for many that it does not go away and actually stays relevant for the foreseeable future. As one of the most storied rivalries in international cricket the AUS versus IND series is exactly why it needs to remain relevant. This is going to be another set of five test matches between the top two teams in the ICC Test Rankings.
On top of that, there are questions surrounding certain star players during this Perth matchup. Is this going to be the last time Virat Kohli plays for India in Down Under? What about the Aussie dynamic duo of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood and their wickets total? There are sure plenty of things to think about and prepare for as the games are already underway. The heavily anticipated series will have a lot to offer so it is high time we examined the ongoing result and the predictions. Furthermore, we talk head-to-head records as well as who the key players will be. Later, we also take a look at the coming schedule for the other matchups and bring you the odds.
At the moment of writing, it is Day 3 in progress and the score shows India is ahead with 150 & 487/6d to Australia’s 104 12/3. It looks to be a sure win for the Men in Blue as their live win probability is 96.5%. Australie needed 522 runs to win. During the game, Virat Kohli’s six off Mitchel Starc hit a member of the security personnel near the boundary line. Kohli found his form during Day 3 and hit a great six off Starc’s bowling. Sadly, it ended up striking a security guard on the head. He was attended by Nathan Lyon and the medical staff of the Aussie team and is doing fine. Stuff like this happens rarely, but it sure is not a surprise.
After day 1 of uncertainty and some balanced play, India ran away with it and never looked back. Kohli has been doing well in the game as he silenced the critics after a fantastic fifty in the ongoing match. He unleashed his full potential in the second innings and followed up on what KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal did to open the game. They became the first Indian opening pait to stitch a 100-run stand in the Down Under since 2004, and the sixth overall. Back then in 2004, it was a 123-run stand in Sydney during the 2003/04 series when Birender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra shined.
Kohli then continued the team’s amazing performance. He brought his half-century when he shot off Pat Cummins who delivered a full straight ball. Kohli though clipped it wide of mid-on, which was his second fifty in 13 innings. This was also his 32nd in Test cricket and fifth on the soil of Australia, his biggest rival. A true legend of his country and the sport, he obviously has a lot left in his tank and could take his squad even further in the upcoming Tests and even next summer in the final.
The Australian side is not fairing well in the game and Steve Smith admitted it. During the team break and after he had been dismissed for a golden duck by Jasprit Bumrah, he said that they were “fair way behind the game.” He continued, saying there is “plenty to do and [they] obviously have to bat well.” Smith was particularly worried about a single stretch in the game, revealing, “Last 45 minutes or so, it has started to play tricks with the cracks, not nice signs for us.”
Predictions and Odds: Who Will Win the Series?
As you can probably tell, this series has everything it needs to be remembered as one of the classics between these age-old rivals. What is more, it has huge implications for the upcoming World Test Championship cycle, the finals of which are set to be played in England in the summer of 2025. India and Australia will both look to be in that prestigious game so this series is a great proving ground and a showcase of what we could be witnessing.
If India wants to do it, they will need a 4-0 win. Since India lost 3-0 to New Zealand, the Aussies only need to win 5 of their upcoming 7 games to qualify. However, the boys from Down Under have struggled against the Indian side and have not won in any of the past four Test series against them. The last victory on home soil was ten years ago (!) when Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins, and Travis Head were in the early stages of their careers. The pressure is mounting for Steve Smith and Co.
On the other side, Virat Kohli is in the twilight of his career too but is still the main man for his squad. India has struggled recently but they do have better chances. As things are shaping up right now, it points to India keeping the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Rohit Sharma should be ready and Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja may be the key bowlers to turn the whole Test series to the visitors’ side. As things are set at the moment of writing, the Australia vs India cricket predictions odds confirm all of this. Australia is in a very unfavorable position with 12.50 odds to win. India is the heavy favorite with 1.02.
There is simply nothing the Aussie side can do this time around and it seems like the next two game days will offer more of the same. The history is not on their side, India is in better form and their team is simply of higher talent and quality. This first series which will conclude in two days is shaping up to be a route for the visiting side. The home team does have plenty of chances to turn it around though, in more ways than one. Australia is hosting the whole five-game series and they will be in a more favorable position venue-wise to get at least a win or two and make it interesting. Let us see when the next few Tests are scheduled for and where they will be played.
Upcoming Schedule: Key Dates and Venues
After the first Test series is over in Perth, it will be more of the same for India as they will remain in Australia for 4 more series. Until the start of January, they will be touring Australia and playing in various venues around the continent. Following the end of 1st Test on November 26, there is going to be about two weeks of no action. Then the teams go back at it from December 6 to 10 at the Adelaide Oval. This 2nd Test will be another great chance for the teams to go back at it and revise their tactics, changing what did not work in Perth. On December 14, only 4 days after the 2nd Test, it was round 3 in The Gabba, Brisbane. Until December 18 the teams will be playing another round of matchups.
A great way for the fans of the game as well as the sports betting enthusiasts on Stake.com is the upcoming Boxing Day, a day traditionally linked to some of the best games in the world of sports. On December 26, until December 30, it is the 4th test between AUS and IND teams, this time at the MCG in Melbourne. What a great way to enjoy the stretch between Christmas and New Year’s Eve! Finally, to end the whole Test series, there is going to be a 5th round of matchups at the Sydney Cricket Ground, from January 3 to 7, 2025. Overall, a lot of action to both finish the year and start the next one for the Men in Blue, but also the Baggy Greens.
Other India Cricket Betting Odds
The ongoing Test series is not all that cricket has to offer to the fans of the Men in Blue. There is plenty of forthcoming action that you can bet on right now despite the games not starting for months to come. For example, early odds for the Indian Premier League 2025 are out and you can place your early bets right now. The early favorites are the Mumbai Indians with 5.50 odds, followed by Chennai Super Kings with 6.50. Then come the Kolkata Knight Riders at 7.00 and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at 7.50. Both the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Rajasthan Royals have their odds at 9.00. Then there are the Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants with 10.00 odds each. Gujarat Titans are second to last with 11.00. The team with the lowest current odds is the Punjab Kings with 13.00.
Although there is plenty of time before the T20 World Cup in February of 2026 starts, the earliest bets are also out. This exciting competition will be what the whole modern variety of sport is about. Hosted in Sri Lanka and India, it will see 20 participants battling it out for the title. India will look to defend its title and win 3rd overall. Right now, they are the favorites with 2.50 odds, followed by Australia with 5.25. South Africa has 5.50 and England, the 2022 champions, have theirs at 6.50. Almost a year and a half before the tournament starts, it is already looking to be the battle of the top teams, as the case usually is. The other teams have their early odds well into the double digits as West Indies and Pakistan are at 13.00, New Zealand is at 17.00, and Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are at 31.00.
The real fans of long-term, outrights betting will be happy to know that the World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia is also out with early bets. Despite Australia winning the latest iteration in 2024 for their 6th title overall, it is India with the highest odds to take this competition. At the moment, they are the favorites with 3.55 followed by the Aussies with 4.50 and then England with 6.50. South Africa (7.00) and New Zealand ( 9.00) round up the top 5 favorites.