Hurting India under pressure in blockbuster five-Test Australia series

India head into a hotly anticipated five-Test showdown against Australia starting in Perth on Friday wounded by their first home series loss in 12 years and with a point to prove.

But questions also surround the hosts, who have been casting around trying to find a successor to fill the considerable shoes of retired opener David Warner.

India's embarrassing 3-0 defeat to New Zealand last month was marked by repeated batting collapses, with mainstays Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma a shadow of their former selves.

With ageing spin king Ravichandran Ashwin and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also under pressure, the series against Pat Cummins' men is a chance to prove the doubters wrong -- or will add fuel to claims this India side is past its sell-by date.

Australian legend Ricky Ponting stirred the pot last week by questioning whether Kohli and Rohit should still be selected after both averaged just 15 against New Zealand.

That prompted a biting response from India coach Gautam Gambhir, who staunchly defended them and asked: "What does Ponting have to do with Indian cricket?

"More importantly, I have got no concerns whatsoever for Virat and Rohit," he added, calling them "incredibly tough men".

"I feel there's a lot of hunger, especially after what has happened in the last series."

Former India coach Ravi Shastri also jumped to the defence of Kohli, who has managed just one half-century across his last five Test matches.

"Well, the king is back in his territory," he said, referring to the 36-year-old's exceptional record in Australia, where he has scored six centuries and averages 54.08.

It appears Rohit is likely to miss the opening Test at Perth Stadium following the birth of his second child, with Jasprit Bumrah assuming the captaincy.

KL Rahul or Abhimanyu Easwaran are in line to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, while number three Shubman Gill is also a major doubt after reportedly fracturing his thumb.

The visitors are without injured pace bowler Mohammed Shami, with Bumrah leading an attack expected to feature two others from Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana or Nitesh Reddy.

Aside from the fate of some senior players, the series could decide the finalists of the World Test Championship.

The hosts need to win five of their remaining seven Tests this cycle to be assured of a place in the June decider at Lord's. India must win the series at least 4-0.

- 'A big one' -

While India are under the gun they have a proud record in Australia, winning the last two Test series to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Such is the rivalry that the series has been boosted to five Tests for the first time since the 1991-92 summer, putting it on a par with the Ashes in duration.

After Perth, they move to Adelaide for a day-nighter, before heading to the Gabba at Brisbane, then Melbourne and Sydney.

"We've lost the (last) two series against them (in Australia), so this is a big one," Australia skipper Cummins said.

"We feel like our team's in a really good place, so we've got no reason why we shouldn't perform really well."

Australia, who have not played a Test since their 2-0 series win in New Zealand in February, have their own issues with star all-rounder Cameron Green out for the series after undergoing back surgery.

Mitchell Marsh will fill the void as the fourth pace option alongside Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, with Australian groundsmen traditionally preparing lively pitches.

Spinner Nathan Lyon will again be their foil, looking to add to his 530 wickets in his 130th Test.

The biggest headache for the hosts has been finding a replacement for Warner as Usman Khawaja's opening partner.

While Steve Smith initially stepped into the role, he will revert to his usual number four, behind Marnus Labuschagne.

After a "bat-off" in two recent Australia A games, uncapped South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney got the nod despite only ever opening once before at first-class level.

Chief selector George Bailey is confident the 25-year-old can handle the scrutiny and the Indian attack.

"I don't think it's a huge adjustment to go from three to opening," said Bailey.

"He's a very organised, composed player at the crease and think he's got a game that will really suit Test cricket."

'Monkeygate' to Gabbatoir

Australia and India have been facing each other in Test cricket since 1947 and renew their rivalry in Perth on Friday, playing a five-match series for the first time since 1991-92.

Some of the most competitive clashes have come since they began contesting the Border-Gavaskar Trophy -- named after the first two batsmen to pass 10,000 runs -- in the 1996-97 season.

AFP looks back at five memorable Tests:

- Tendulkar conquers Warne -

Sachin Tendulkar and spin king Shane Warne had many epic battles.

In 1998 at the Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, Warne drew first blood by having the batting master caught for four in the slips, then he ran through the middle order to restrict India to 257 in their first innings. In reply Australia made 328, helped by Ian Healy's 90.

This set the stage for Warne v Tendulkar round two, and it was the batsman who came out on top on a dusty, spin-friendly wicket. He produced one of his most dazzling innings, taking apart Warne and fellow spinner Gavin Robertson in a magnificent unbeaten 155 from 191 balls that changed the course of the match.

India declared and set Australia 348 to win, and they were bundled out for just 168 on the final day with Tendulkar, not surprisingly, named man-of-the-match.

- Laxman's epic stand -

The second Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, in 2001 was all about one of India's greatest comebacks and is regarded among the most exciting matches of all time.

After Australia posted a big total of 445, with Matthew Hayden making 97 and Steve Waugh 110, their bowling attack led by Glenn McGrath skittled the home side for 171.

The follow-on was enforced with India in real danger of going 2-0 down in the series before VVS Laxman (281) and Rahul Dravid (180) knuckled down in a memorable and gritty 376-run stand for the fifth wicket as India made 657-7 before declaring.

Australia were left with a victory target of 384, but six wickets from Harbhajan Singh steered India to an unlikely 171-run win.

- 'Monkeygate' scandal -

Perhaps the most controversial and spiteful Test between the two nations, the 2008 Sydney encounter was dubbed "Monkeygate", marred by umpiring errors and accusations of racism.

Ricky Ponting's men won by 122 runs for a record-breaking 16th consecutive Test victory with just seven balls remaining in a breathless finish after part-time spinner Michael Clarke took three wickets in five deliveries.

But it is infamously remembered for Harbhajan Singh being charged with racial abuse and banned for three Tests for allegedly calling Andrew Symonds -- who has West Indian ancestry -- a "monkey" during the third day's play.

The row saw India threaten to pull out of the tour and on appeal the ban was lifted and the charge downgraded to abusive language, leaving relations between the teams tense.

- Spinners rule in Bangalore -

Australia took a 1-0 lead into the fiery Test in Bangalore in 2017 and when Nathan Lyon bagged 8-50 to bamboozle the Indian batsmen for 189, it looked like the tourists would go 2-0 up.

But in a bad-tempered few days, Ravindra Jadeja picked up 6-63 to ensure the tourists led by just 87. A stylish 92 from Cheteshwar Pujara coupled with six wickets for Josh Hazlewood then saw India all out for 274 to set Australia 188 to win.

They crumbled for 112 with Ravichandran Ashwin becoming the fourth bowler in the match to claim six wickets -- the first time this had happened in Test history.

The landmark was overshadowed by Virat Kohli accusing Australia of consulting their dressing room over DRS decisions from the field. Asked whether Australia cheated, a fired-up Kohli replied: "I didn't say that, you did."

- 'Gabbatoir' conquered -

Australia went into the deciding Test at Brisbane of the four-match series in 2020-21 having not lost at the Gabba in 32 years. Beset by injuries, India were heavy underdogs.

The hosts won the toss and, helped by a Marnus Labuschagne century, compiled 369 before India responded with a gritty 336. Australia -- in Nathan Lyon's 100th Test -- were restricted to 294 in the second innings, but they still set India a mammoth 328 to win.

A battling 91 from Shubman Gill gave them a solid platform but it was a dashing Rishabh Pant who stole the show with a thrilling unbeaten 89 to complete a three-wicket victory with three overs to spare on the final day.