The build-up to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia has already generated much interest.

A day after Ricky Ponting said Australia could win the series 3-1, former India captain and head coach Ravi Shastri hit back saying Rohit Sharma’s men are capable of a hat-trick of Test series triumphs Down Under given the quality of their bowlers and the strong batting line-up.

India have won the last two Test series in Australia and have held onto the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since Australia claimed a 2-0 series victory on home soil at the beginning of 2015.

“With (Jasprit) Bumrah fit, (Mohammed) Shami fit, you’ve got Mohammed Siraj there. You’ve got the likes of (Ravinchandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja and some very good bench strength as well... One can’t wait for that series to start and (I think) India can do the hat-trick (of series victories in Australia),” Shastri told ICC.

“It is going to be one heck of a series and India have every chance of making it a hat-trick because they’ve got their bowlers fit and if they can bat well, they can tickle (beat) Australia once again,” said Shastri.

Shastri was the head coach when India won their last two series in Australia — in 2018-19 and 2020-21.

India will play a five-match series this time. The Pat Cummins-led Australia are upbeat after they exacted sweet revenge over Rohit Sharma’s side during the World Test Championship final.