“Maybe Ravichandran Ashwin should start telling us about a special delivery that he is developing for Steve Smith” – Sunil Gavaskar

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar wants Indian experts to follow in the footsteps of Australia and start playing mind games ahead of the five-match Test series. Many former Australian players have backed their team to regain the Border-Gavaskar series later in the year.

India has won the last two Test series against Australia in Australia and they will be determined to once again prove their mettle while playing Downunder.

Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin is going to hold the key for India in the forthcoming series. Ashwin bagged 12 wickets in three matches of the previous tour at an average of 28.83. The veteran off-spinner had dismissed Steve Smith in the first two Test matches of the series.

Gavaskar feels Ashwin should shed light on the special delivery he is developing for Steve Smith if the Australian batter survives the opening spell of Jasprit Bumrah.

Smith has scored 171 runs in four Test matches at an average of 28.50 as an opener since David Warner’s retirement.

Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day, “Already the mind games have begun with Australian players both current and former airing their views about what the result would be. Maybe Ravichandran Ashwin should start telling us about a special delivery that he is developing for Steve Smith, that is of course if he continues to open the batting and can survive Jasprit Bumrah.”

“While they (Australia) are not making Glenn McGrath-like statements of a clean sweep they are still suggesting that Australia will prevail. Sadly, apart from Ravi Shastri no other former or current player has seen to counter the mind games which the Aussies are so good at.”

Recently, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri backed the Indian team to complete their hat-trick of wins in Australia.

The opening Test match between India and Australia will be played at Perth from November 22 onwards.