Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has made a series of predictions about the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, including saying that opening batsman Usman Khawaja will outscore Indian skipper Virat Kohli.
Ponting, who successfully projected Australia's 4-0 Test series win over England last year, declared a 2-1 result in favour of the hosts in the upcoming Test series while also declaring that Khawaja and Josh Hazlewood would emerge out as the two star performers.
Pointing out Khawaja's superb recent campaign against Pakistan, the 43-year-old suggested that the Australian opener would not only be the leading run-scorer against India but would also finish as the Player of the series.
"He's on top of his game, his record in Australia is outstanding.As much of a threat that the Indian fast bowlers might pose, I think he's got a game that can cope with it here in Australia.I'm going with him to be the leading run scorer and man of the series, " cricket.com.au quoted Ponting as saying.
He further believes Khawaja is in a really good place at the moment and that he has got the perfect package to have a great summer.
Kohli made a total of 692 runs, including four centuries, at an average of 86.50 during India's last Test tour four years ago. While Ponting admitted that Kohli would perform well in Australia, he added that the Indian skipper would just be outscored by Khawaja.
"(Khawaja) will just pip Kohli. Kohli will play well I'm sure because he does everywhere he goes and had a great series against Australia last time.Just where they're starting in Adelaide and Perth – if they leave something in them, Kohli is a bit more vulnerable in those conditions than Melbourne and Sydney," Ponting said while adding that extra life in the surfaces would be an advantage for Khawaja.
Meanwhile, Ponting also predicted that Hazlewood would pose a big threat to India and that he would finish as the series' leading wicket taker.
"Adelaide and Perth will suit him down to the ground with the way he bowls and the way he presents the seam in those venues.Being six (foot) five or six (foot) six (tall) as well, he'll exploit the bounce that a lot of Indians won't be comfortable with," he said.
It is to be noted that Hazlewood's haul of 21 wickets during last summer's Ashes series was narrowly edged by his teammates Pat Cummins (23 wickets) and Mitchell Starc (22).
The two sides are slated to play four-match Test series, beginning December 6 at the Adelaide Oval.
