It will be a bigger challenge to beat Australia in 2020 Test series: Sourav Ganguly

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly feels beating Australia on their home soil will be a bigger challenge for India next year compared to the one in 2018-19 when Steve Smith and David Warner were not present in the opposition ranks.

Smith and Warner were serving ball-tampering bans when India won their first series in Australia, ending a 71-year wait.

"I think that's going to be bigger challenge for them (2020 Test series) and I am sure (with) the standards Virat sets for himself and his team, he'll know at the back of his mind that the 2018 Australian team was not the best Australian team of his generation," Ganguly said on India Today's special programme 'Inspiration', with obvious reference to Smith and Warner's ban due to ball tampering charges.

India's tour of Australia next year will be preceded by the T20 World Cup, to be held Down Under from October 18 to November 15.

Under Ganguly, India drew the four-Test series 1-1 but Australia were without their best bowlers Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

Ganguly asserted that India have the resources to beat Australia in their own backyard.

"They have fast bowlers, they have spinners, they have a champion in Virat Kohli, as a batsman it's a new Ajinkya Rahane, which we have seen in the last three, four months and now Rohit Sharma (as opener).

"I am looking forward to his performance, and if India get the order right and the openers, because opening is the most important thing in overseas cricket... so if they can get that right they will be able to beat this Australian team," he added.

India have lost Test series in South Africa and England in 2018 but Ganguly expects them to win the team tours next time.

"I still expect them to win in England and South Africa in Test matches which they need to do to be a good side. They beat Australia in last year (2018) but I still expect them to win in South Africa and England and they are going back to Australia next year," Ganguly said.