India can win Mohali opener

It goes without saying that India will want to start fast in a two-Test series against Australia, beginning on Friday, but part of the reason is that they don't want to give the tourists even the faintest hope that they can win a series that could see them drop further down the world rankings.

Ricky Ponting and his team won't really give a hoot about rankings if they go on to win the Ashes this winter, but their hopes of doing that will not be enhanced if they get turned over in the series, starting in Mohali.

Luckily for them, Mohali has not been much of a result pitch of late, with five of the nine Tests played there ending in draws. With neither side exactly tearing it up, in bowling terms, of late, another one could well be on the cards.

That's partly why the draw is the favourite with bet365, at 21/20, as well as the fact that there is not much between the two and that on their day, each is capable of winning either or both Tests. India are 12/5 to win in Mohali and Australia the outsiders at 5/2.

It's going to be difficult for Australia to take 20 wickets on the relatively slow India pitches, especially when Nathan Hauritz is their leading spinner. Even Shane Warne struggled in India and it's often the seamers, and especially the ones who can vary their pace and find the odd bit of reverse swing, who have most luck.

Providing Harbhajan Singh is passed fit after a niggling injury, India should have the edge in the bowling department and they still have the edge in the batting department too, with Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Gautam Gambhir all playing well.

Sehwag is the favourite to top-score for India in their first innings at 3/1, while Tendulkar is 10/3 and Gambhir is 4/1. The top two are the best and most destructive batsmen in the side, but Gambhir averages more than 100 in Mohali and may just fancy his chances against a relatively weak Australia attack.

Vijay is 9/2 to come out on top, Dravid is 5/1 and Laxman is a 6/1 chance.

For Australia, bet365 can't split Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich, who are both 10/3 chances. Shane Watson is 7/2, Michael Clarke 9/2 and Michael Hussey on offer at 11/2.

It's going to be a tough task for Australia to keep India from winning this match and even though Mohali boosts their hopes, they won't have forgotten that they were battered by more than 300 runs when the two sides met there just two years ago.