Tim Paine opines on the Indian player who can trouble the Australian bowlers

The highly-anticipated four-match Border Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia will finally kickstart from December 17 at Adelaide Oval. While Australia will be looking forward to taking a revenge from Virat Kohli & Co. for their historic loss in the 2018-19 Test series by 2-1, Australian skipper Tim Paine revealed the Indian batsman who can be a potential threat to the hosts in the marquee series.

He believes that though Cheteshwar Pujara, who was the highest run-getter in the last outing, will be a big wicket for his side, they will be more focused on taking the wicket of India’s vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane. Paine feels that Rahane was the glue that held the Indian team together on the previous tour.

Further, the skipper also heaped praises on young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant for his power-hitting abilities in the purest format of the game. Tim also spoke about the scintillating innings of 103 runs off 73 deliveries that Pant had played in the second day-night warm-up against Australia A.

Pujara is a big key for us: Tim Paine

The Indian skipper Virat Kohli will be heading back to India after participating in the first pink-ball Test against Australia in Adelaide to be with his wife Anushka Sharma during the birth of their first child. Though it is a massive boost for the opposition, Tim Paine asserted that India has a plethora of talent on their side to cover the absence of Kohli.

“When Kohli leaves, we know the talent they have in their side. Pujara obviously troubled us a lot last time around so he is a big key for us, but we know the talent they have, we saw Rishabh Pant hitting a very quick hundred in the second practice game so they have got guys who can take away the Test match pretty quickly.

Clearly, Rahane held the team together last time, he was the glue last time around so he is a huge focus for us,” Paine said during a virtual press conference ahead of the first game against India.

Australia wouldn’t have to plan to take the wicket of hard-hitter Rishabh Pant at least in the first game as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s playing XI for the first Test and Wriddhiman Saha will be seen donning the gloves for the visitors instead of Pant.