India vs. Australia: 1st Test Match Prediction

The first test between India vs Australia starts on Thursday night at VCA Stadium in Nagpur and punters get value cricket betting markets.

Bookmakers have India favoured to win at $1.57. Australia is a $3.35 chance and the draw pays $5.10, so it should be a competitive test match.

We look at where punters should put their money for the summer cricket headliner.

India vs. Australia: 1st Test Match Prediction

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India vs. Australia Betting Tip

India and Australia enter the World Test Series match with good form. India has won four of its last five tests, including a 188-run win over Bangladesh.

It hasn’t been facing the best teams in the world and it lost to England last year by seven wickets, so the Indians will need to improve to beat the likes of Australia.

However, beating Australia hasn’t been overly hard of late. India is 2-1-2 over the last five tests against Australia, including a three-wicket win in 2021. They like to use home ground to their advantage and winning tests in India has always been tough for any opposing team.

Australia comes off a drawn test against South Africa, but its form prior included four consecutive wins against the West Indies and South Africa. It scored an emphatic 419-run victory against West Indies in 2022, so that’s a good form guide.

Handling the slower batting conditions is something Australia has always struggled with. Therefore, the likes of David Warner, Steve Smith, and Usman Khawaja will need to soak up the spin and bat with a good head on their shoulders.

We are worried that Australia has a lot of Twenty/20 specialists in the squad, including Cameron Green and Travis Head, but with a bowling attack featuring Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, anything is possible.

However, we’re backing India to win at $1.75. It has too much class in the spin bowling department and that suits the conditions. $1.75 for India at home is an excellent price and it will be tough to knock over.

Betting tip: India @ $1.75

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India vs. Australia Top Run Scorer Tips

There is plenty of money to be made in two run scorer markets for the first innings.

We like Rohit Sharma to top score for India and he’s paying a handsome price to lead his team in the opening innings.

Sharma, one of the best batsmen in the world, pays $4.50 and he’s well worth including in your cricket bets at those odds.

The current favourite is Virat Kohli, which isn’t surprising, but Sharma is the better value bet and he could steer the Indians to a solid first innings lead.

Australia has a deep batting lineup but we’re looking no further than Steve Smith. He usually produces the goods when his team needs him to, which is why he’s the $3.50 to outscore the likes of Marnus Labuschagne, Khawaja, and Warner.

Smith is a player punters can count on to deliver, so he’s the best run scorer bet in the first test.

Betting tip: Steve Smith @ $3.50

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India vs. Australia Top Wicket Taker

We love Nathan Lyon to be Australia’s top wicket taker in the first innings.

He’s Australia’s best spin option and he has had great success in India, so the conditions are perfect and we’re not surprised by the $2.75 available.

India is good at playing spin, but the pace bowlers have a tough time getting through the defence. Therefore, Lyon should pick up the majority of the wickets on the new pitch.

Include him in selections at the odds as we think they will shorten on game day.

Betting tip: Nathan Lyon @ $2.75