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Australia under pressure while India flying under Virat Kohli: Brendon McCullum - Sports News

India are looking for their first-ever Test series victory in Australia. (Reuters Photo) HIGHLIGHTS Brendon McCullum said he was not sure Australia batting is equipped enough to handle Indian bowling McCullum said Virat Kohli is an "absolute superstar in the game" McCullum was not sure what hard cricket meant for Australian team An understrength Australia is working overtime to find ways to keep up with their dominant home record against an on-paper stronger and more fancied Indian side as the four Test series kicks off on December 6.

Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum rated India as a much stronger opponent for an Australia, that is still struggling to rise from the low of ball-tampering scandal. On the other hand, McCullum felt that India have been playing brilliantly under Virat Kohli.

"They [Australia] are under a bit of pressure for sure and they are low on confidence too. India is flying under Virat Kohli. He has got them playing brilliantly well. And perhaps this is a great chance to try and get a win down there. Australia in their own conditions are tough but at the moment they are a wounded line up and they will have to discover a bit of class in the next few weeks otherwise I would say India looks a bit too strong," McCullum told India Today.

When asked if better knowledge of home conditions mean bowling is one area where Australia hold the edge over the visitors, McCullum disagreed.

"I do not think so. Australia's bowling is pretty strong but India's bowling is suited to those conditions as well. I am not sure Australia's batting line up is strong enough to be able to handle that," he added.

McCullum was all praise for his Indian Premier League (IPL) captain and was 100 percent sure that Virat Kohli will make a big difference in this Test series too.

"He is massive. The best player in the world by a fair bit across formats and absolute superstar in the game as well. And the position that he is in with captaining India with such a support base behind and what cricket means to the Indian people, it sits on his shoulders pretty comfortably. He plays the game in his manner and he is a brilliant world class player. I am pretty sure he will perform in this tour as well," McCullum predicted.

McCullum was also scathing in his observation on the Australian tendency to cross the line in quest for wins that has left the two big members of their leadership group - Steve Smith and David Warner - out of action for a year.

"What is hard cricket? The game takes care of itself. You play the game in the manner that you want and be authentic to yourself. For me it was always about having plenty of mates at the end of the games as well and the game not defining you as a person. From their point of view, I don't know how they want to do it. But I am sure they will discover at some stage," he said.

Trying to make sense of the Australian dressing room directed to mind their conduct, McCullum suggests it's imperative they improve.

"What they are trying to do is to re-engage with their fans. They have lost a lot of support and respect from their fans back home. I think what they are trying to do is to re-engage with fans not just of this year but of tomorrow as well. Because with young kids it's a chance to attract following from them," he signed off.

Also Read | India will win Test series in Australia 3-0: Sunil Gavaskar to India Today Also Read | Ricky Ponting suggests hostility to rattle Virat Kohli in Test series Also Read | Will Australia sledge Virat Kohli? Josh Hazlewood and Tim Paine weigh in

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