As the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020/21 nears its commencement, Sankalp Srivastava profiles the Indian Test bowling contingent and looks back at their performances on previous visits to Australia.

Four of India’s top five Test wicket-takers in Australia since the 2003/04 tour (all five, if Ishant Sharma gains match fitness) are part of the travelling squad, fusing into a formidable line up that will try and register a second consecutive Test series win Down Under.

The Indian Test bowling line-up comprises of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini. Ishant wasn’t initially named in the Test squad but BCCI, in a recent update, stated that if he fully recovers from the rib injury that ruled him out of IPL 2020, the speedster will be added to the side.

Siraj and Saini are yet to make their Test debut; here’s how the remaining have performed in Test matches in Australia:

Ravichandran Ashwin
Tests: 7, Wickets: 27, BBI: 4-105, Average: 48.07

India’s most successful spinner in Australia from the current squad, Ashwin played just one of the four Tests on the previous tour due to injury, picking up six wickets in his only game. He was part of the India XI in just one Test of the New Zealand tour earlier this year as well, with Ravindra Jadeja replacing him for the second match. But Ashwin’s stocks have gone back up after a commendable IPL 2020 season, which paves the way for his spot for the opening Test in Adelaide. He is yet to register a five-wicket haul in Australia, something which could be at the back of his head when he takes the field this time around.

Ravindra Jadeja
Tests: 2, Wickets: 7, BBI: 3-82, Average: 28.57

Of the three spinners part of the Indian Test squad on their last tour to Australia, Jadeja was the only one to play more than one match. Jadeja’s prowess with the bat puts him on the top of the pile as far as spinners are concerned and eases him into the XI. With the ball alone, he might not be the best bet with the conditions on offer in Australia, but he brings a lot more than just spin bowling to the table. Expect Jadeja to be drafted into the XI to provide solidity to the batting if Virat Kohli’s departure exposes the Indian middle order.

Ravindra Jadeja in Test cricket:

Batting average: 35.26
Bowling average: 24.62https://t.co/gW4rFnFSGw

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) June 29, 2020

Kuldeep Yadav
Test: 1, Wickets: 5, BBI: 5-99, Average: 19.80

The left-arm spinner is the only tweaker in the travelling contingent with a five-for to his name in Australia. Kuldeep featured in the 2019 Sydney Test which was eventually washed off, saving the hosts from what looked like a certain defeat. The bowler opened and closed off the Australian innings, picking up five wickets in the process. He will be itching to shake off the disappointment of an average IPL season and pick up exactly from where he left off on India’s last tour.

Umesh Yadav
Tests: 8, Wickets: 27, BBI: 5-93, Average: 45.85

Australia seems to be Umesh Yadav’s favourite overseas hunting ground: the only place outside India where he has bagged a Test five-wicket haul. His economy in Australia, however, is on the higher side – 4.52 in Tests – which might cost him a spot in the XI. Moreover, with the fresh pair of Saini and Siraj both waiting in the wings, Umesh may not find enough chances coming his way in Australia.

Jasprit Bumrah
Tests: 4, Wickets: 21, BBI: 6-33, Average: 17.00

Bumrah’s Test career has started with five consecutive away tours – South Africa, England, Australia, West Indies and New Zealand respectively, and Australia will now be his sixth away Test tour in a little over two years of Test career. The right-arm quick had finished as the joint highest wicket-taker in the 2018/19 Border Gavaskar Trophy and will spearhead the Indian pace attack with an eye on finishing top of the pile yet again.

Australia have the best fast bowling attack.

ⓘ 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱 pic.twitter.com/i9uZNzoHoV

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) November 17, 2020

Mohammed Shami
Tests: 7, Wickets: 31, BBI: 6-56, Average: 30.83

Shami is India’s joint fourth-highest wicket-taker in Australia of all time, picking up 15 and 16 wickets respectively on his two Australia tours so far. Along with Bumrah, Shami is expected to deliver the goods for India with the new ball, against a strong Australian top order. His confidence will be sky high after a stellar IPL, where he took 20 wickets.