Smith v Kohli could decide destiny of series

It might not have seemed feasible during his all-conquering exploits against England in recent months, but Virat Kohli is human after all. How else to explain his series tally of 46 runs in three Tests against Australia, at the meagre average of 9.20? That said, it takes more than a short-term downturn in form to dissuade the bookmakers of the merits of a genuine superstar of the sport, and despite everything, Kohli remains Bet365's favourite to top-score for India in the fourth and final Test at Dharamsala.

At 12/5, Kohli is fractionally more favoured than Cheteshwar Pujara (3/1), despite the latter's double-century in the drawn third Test at Ranchi last week - an innings that spanned 525 balls, the most ever received by an Indian batsman in a Test innings. In the bowling stakes, the spin twins Ravi Ashwin (6/4) and Ravi Jadeja (15/8) lead the field, which is no great surprise seeing as they have claimed 39 of the 55 Australian wickets in the series so far.

As for the Aussies, well, no-one gave them a prayer coming into the four-match series, but now, after a famous win in the first Test and a fighting draw in the third, they have a puncher's chance of achieving one of their most famous overseas series wins of all time. And so much of their success has resided in the form of their captain, Steve Smith, whose No.1 world ranking has been bolstered by two centuries of exceptional quality.

At 12/5, Smith is streets ahead of his team-mates to be Australia's leading batsman in the series decider, with David Warner the next best bet at 10/3. But, claiming 20 Indian wickets will be every bit as important to Australia's series hopes. Steve O'Keefe (9/4) and Nathan Lyon (13/5) will need to finish the series as they began it to give their team a chance.