The former legendary Australian captain Ricky Ponting has dropped his prediction for the upcoming high-octane Border-Gavaskar series. Ponting picks Australia to lift the BGT by 3-1 and also said that India's biggest challenge will be picking up 20 wickets in the absence of express pace bowler Mohammad Shami.

Ricky Ponting 
Speaking on the latest episode of the ICC Review, Ponting backed the Indian batters to do well and added that the Indian team will clinch at least a victory in the series.

"Probably more so now (than before).(Mohammed) Shami just leaves such a big hole in that bowling group. Back then (in August) there was still some conjecture whether Shami would be fit or not. I think taking 20 wickets in a Test match for India is going to be the biggest challenge. I think they'll bat well enough out here with the current group of batters that they've got."

"I think India will win a Test match somewhere through the five Test matches. But I still think now, Australia probably look a bit more settled, a bit more experienced and we know that they're a very hard team to beat at home. So I'll stick with the 3-1," he added.

India are coming into the series after a humiliating 3-0 series whitewash at home against New Zealand. Having lost all the three Tests to the Kiwis, India need to win by 4-0 margin against Australia to book the tickets for World Test Championship (WTC) Final.