Australia v India betting picks & predictions | Third Test

Australia vs India best bets – Third Test

Australia vs India match preview – Third Test

With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy locked at 1-1, the battle continues at the Gabba as the third Test between Australia and India kicks off this Saturday.

The Aussies got their summer back on track last weekend at Adelaide Oval, securing a dominant 10-wicket win. Fast bowler Mitchell Starc set up the result with a career-best 6/48 before Travis Head hit the Indian bowlers to all parts in front of his home crowd, scoring 140 off just 141 balls. Captain Pat Cummins took 5/57 in the second innings as India set a total of just 19 to win, which was easily chased down.

With the series all tied up, leading cricket bookmakers have Australia as favourites for the trophy at -151.52. India are now at +200, while the draw is paying +650.

At the Gabba, Australia are not quite as dominant as they once were, losing two of their last four Tests — including their most recent against the West Indies in January. Last time these sides met at the venue, India became the first visiting side to win in Brisbane since 1988, claiming an unlikely three-wicket victory.

Traditionally, Brisbane has been known for its pace and bounce early in the Test, becoming more friendly to batsmen as the pitch wears on.

Australia vs India team news – Third Test

Australia are likely to make just one change for the third Test, with fast bowler Josh Hazlewood expected to return from a side strain. Despite his strong performance in Adelaide, Scott Boland is the likely omission.

On the other hand, India are expected to change up their batting lineup. After struggling down at number six, captain Rohit Sharma may move back up to the top of the order, pushing KL Rahul back down.

All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has top scored in three of the four innings, so expect him to push up to number seven, while veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is a chance to be replaced by either Ravindra Jadeja or Washington Sundar.

Fast bowler Harshit Rana was expensive while going wicketless in Adelaide, so don’t be surprised if Akash Deep is brought in as a replacement.

Australia vs India predictions – Third Test

After their dominant display in Adelaide, expect the Aussies to roll into Brisbane full of confidence. Their bowling attack was far too strong in Adelaide, while the batting looked much improved from the disastrous first Test. As favourites, back Australia to win at -163.93 with top sports betting sites.

Coming off a five-wicket haul, Australian captain Pat Cummins heads to Brisbane with an exceptional record. He has 40 wickets in seven matches at the Gabba, with an average of just 18. He has shown he can get wickets bowling on a good length or going short and aggressive, so take Cummins to be Australia’s top first-innings bowler at +220 with online bookmakers.

Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has been thrilling to watch this series with his extravagant strokeplay from his first ball. But it is working, and he is quickly putting the Aussie bowlers onto the back foot. Pant is the form Indian batsman right now, and last time he played at the Gabba he was the match-winner, so back him to be India’s top first-innings runscorer at +460 with Bovada.

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