After a one sided series against Sri Lanka, Indian fans look forward to a mouth watering contest as Australian team lands in India for a 5-ODI and 3 T20I series. Earlier in the year, they were defeated 2-1 by Indian side in Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Aussies and sledging are synonyms. But this time around Indian team has sent a clear message that if any of the Australian cricketers try to ignite the wrath then Indians are not going to keep mum but fire with fire.

Fast bowler Mohammed Shami made a strong statement saying, “We are 100 per cent ready to take on the Australian sledging. If they sledge us, they will get the appropriate reply. It will be a tit for tat reply.” Shami told India TV.

The mind games before the start of the series spice up the contest even more. In the Border Gavaskar Trophy in 2nd test at Bangalore, there was a lot of banter between Ishant Sharma and Steve Smith. Ishant made funny faces at Smith which set social media on fire.

Shami was rested for ODI series against Sri Lanka to keep himself fit for this ODI series. Shami needs 9 wickets in 2 games to become the fastest to get 100 ODI wickets. Currently, the record is held by Mitchell Starc who took 52 games to reach that landmark.

It was against Australia that Shami made his mark in international cricket after a sensational spell of 3/42 at Ranchi. In the 2015 World Cup on Australian soil, he picked 17 wickets and was India”s second leading wicket-taker after Umesh Yadav (18).

Since the 2011 World Cup quarter final, India has won only 5 ODIS against Australia in 6 years. Saying so, the last time Australia won an ODI series in India was in 2009. The last time these two teams locked horns in a bilateral ODI series, Australia thrashed India by 4-1 in January 2016. There are 3 T20Is to follow after ODI series. India has an outstanding record vs Australia in T20Is.

– by Atharva Apte