Marnus Labuschange queries India's confidence after whitewash loss to New Zealand

Australia’s No.3 Marnus Labuschagne believes India’s confidence could be “damaged” after a historic home whitewash against New Zealand.

Australia will start strong favourites to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar trophy, with India still licking their wounds after losing 3-0 at home for the first time in their Test history.

Captain Rohit Sharma has remained at home following the birth of his second child and will miss the first Test in Perth.

Fellow top-order batter Shubman Gill is also set to sit out the series-opener after injuring his thumb in a training session.

Labuschagne admitted the conditions in Australia were “completely different” to what India just played in, but said their humbling by the Black Caps was a “good thing”.

“Having India come here off the back of a loss at home is something that’s never happened before,” the 30-year-old said on Tuesday.

“They’re probably a little bit lower on confidence, not coming off a Test victory, losing to New Zealand three-nil, that’s going to do a little bit damage for their confidence.

“But at the end of the day, they’re a quality line-up, and they’re one of the best teams in the world so you can never underestimate a team like that.”

Star Australia spinner Nathan Lyon is refusing to write-off out-of-form superstar Virat Kohli and his besieged India teammates.

Kohli is enduring the worst form slump of his decorated career after posting just two Test centuries since the start of 2020.

But Lyon, who took 22 wickets when Australia toured India in 2023, remained wary of what Kohli could do in potentially his farewell Border-Gavaskar contest.

“Look at his record out here,” Lyon said.

“Overall, look at his record. You don’t write off champions.

“I’ve got nothing but respect for Virat.

“I want to get him out, there’s no point in hiding behind that, but it’s challenging.

“Him and Smithy (Steve Smith) are probably the best two batters in our last era of this last decade.

“It’s been pretty amazing competing against him for so many times.”

Lyon is one of only four members of the current squad who were part of Australia’s last winning Test series against India in 2014-15.

Even captain Pat Cummins, who debuted in 2011 and is preparing for his 63rd Test, has never lifted the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

India recorded a historic series win in Australia in 2018-19, albeit with the hosts missing suspended stars Smith and David Warner.

But they proved that triumph was no fluke when they returned two years later, pulling off a famous 2-1 series win.

Lyon doesn’t need reminding of those previous defeats and didn’t believe India were vulnerable this time around.

“They’re dangerous all the time,” he said.

“They’re a side full of superstars.

“They’ve got so much experience, but talented youth as well and you can never write off that.

“I was fascinated by that series to New Zealand, but we’re expecting the best India that we’ve played against for a number of years now.”

During his County stint at Lancashire this year, Lyon picked the brain of Tom Hartley, who spun England to a Test victory in Hyderabad in January by taking nine wickets on debut.

“It was probably a really brilliant insight,” Lyon said of his interactions with Hartley.

“I wasn’t there obviously, I didn’t watch every ball, but talking to Tommy in the nets about not just (Yashasvi) Jaiswal, but the whole team, and getting an understanding on how they played him.”

After training at the WACA Ground for the last five days, India on Tuesday had their first look at Optus Stadium three days out from the Test.

KL Rahul batted first in the nets as he prepares to fill the void left by Sharma at the top of the order.

Keeper Dhruv Jurel starred for India A at the MCG and appears a major chance to be recalled for his first Test since March.

Jurel would likely bat at No.6, behind star keeper Rishabh Pant, and is not expected to take the gloves.