India’s thrilling victory in the first Test against Australia at Adelaide has thrown the cat among the pigeons. Virat Kohli’s men had been quietly touted as favourites in the build-up to the tour, but they’ve now taken a massive leap towards their first series win in Australia.
According to Bet365, India are 4/7 to build on their 1-0 lead and close out the four-match series, with Australia already looking up against it at 9/2. The draw, at 11/4, splits the difference between the two sides.
And yet, the tables seem fractionally turned for the second Test, starting at Perth on Friday. On what is expected to be a pacey drop-in wicket at the Optus Stadium, which is hosting its maiden Test after the decommissioning of the WACA, Australia are 23/20 to bounce back with a victory, compared to India’s 6/5. There’s really nothing more than a splinter of willow between the two.
In terms of the players who will make the difference, however, it is a clear case of India’s batsmen versus Australia’s bowlers. Virat Kohli, who missed out in the first Test, is 7/1 to win the Man-of-the-Match award, ahead of Mitchell Starc (9/1) and Cheteshwar Pujara and Nathan Lyon (both 10/1).
