Bengaluru: As the cricketing world braces for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, former Australian captain Steve Waugh has tipped India to pose a serious challenge in their upcoming Test series in Australia, largely due to their world-class bowling spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah.
Waugh believes that Bumrah's presence in the side makes India a formidable force, capable of toppling any team in world cricket.
"India really has a chance to play well in Australia. They’ve got a very good bowling attack," he told UNI, stressing how crucial Bumrah could be in swinging the series in India's favour. "Anyone like Bumrah in the attack is capable of beating any other team."
Waugh is here to attend the 8th Bengaluru Space Expo here on Wednesday.
With both teams stacked with talent, Waugh is predicting a close contest between two cricketing giants. "India and Australia are both world-class sides, and this series will be one of the best for a long, long time," he remarked. The former skipper feels the series will be fiercely contested, with each side confident of winning. "It’s going to be great to watch," Waugh added.
While many eyes are already turning towards next year's Ashes, Waugh urged fans to stay focused on the imminent series, pointing out that the Ashes are still 12 months away and it's too early to predict who will line up for either Australia or England. "The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is what matters right now. I think we will see some of the best cricket played for a long time," the former skipper said.
Asked whether he had a favourite for the series, Waugh took a diplomatic stance. "I don’t bet. I just watch," he quipped, leaving fans to speculate on their own.
With Bumrah’s devastating form and India's depth in both batting and bowling, the stage is set for what promises to be a classic series between two of the world’s finest cricket teams.