Former Indian Men's team coach Ravi Shastri has picked India's X-factors in the high-octane Border-Gavaskar series, and also mentioned about the Australian players India need to ponder about.

Ravi ShastriSpeaking with host Sanjana Ganesan on the most recent episode of The ICC Review, the former India coach Shastri picked two players from Australia and India each whom he thinks could be game-changers for their respective sides.

When he was asked about the X-factors from the Indian team, he picked young prodigious southpaw Yashasvi Jaiswal and pace ace Jasprit Bumrah.

“Jaiswal at the top because if he gets in, he can be devastating,” Shastri went on to laud the youngster’s spin-playing ability and scoring rate.

“You know he plays spin very well, he plays at his own tempo, he's got all the shots in the book."

"He's an entertainer so if he gets in as we've seen in his career already you know he has the ability to get the big scores. You don't hit two consecutive double hundreds you know just like that, you've got to have the hunger you have to have the quality and the ability," Shastri noted.

When he was asked about the bowling department, he took no time to burst out about the India's vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, who has a tally of 32 Test wickets against Australia at an average of only 21.25. And for Australia's bowling department, he brought their captain Pat Cummins to stand tall for the Aussies.

"I think Jasprit, no question,” Shastri said. “Because he's the best fast bowler in the world. There's no question about that. And likewise for Australia, will be (Pat) Cummins (who will dominate).”

"These are the top two bowlers who are on either side. And you'd expect him at this stage of his career, where at times he makes the ball talk, to be the highest wicket-taker," Shastri said of Bumrah.

“Pat Cummins will be at you. He's relentless. I mean, don't take your eye off Nathan Lyon because he has a fantastic record against India, both at home and away," Shastri said.

“So he'll be someone to watch but Pat Cummins, because if Australia have to damage early doors and then later on, it will be Cummins.”

Ravi Shastri picked Steve Smith from Australia's batting department to be threatening for India despite his poor run in Test Cricket since 2023, as he averages only 33.64 with the bat from 10 innings.

"Steve Smith because of his experience, because of his past record and he's at that stage of his career where he needs a challenge,” Shastri said when speaking of Smith.

“He needs a challenge and I think he'll be up for it. It could be his final series against India, so that's another way to look at it. And just seeing his form in that couple of games against Pakistan makes me think in that fashion.”

The first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy commences from Friday, November 22 in Perth.