Ricky Ponting claims India will struggle in Australia  

Australian legend Ricky Ponting has sounded a warning to the Indian team, claiming they could struggle in Australia if the ball swings and seams. India’s top order looked all at sea in the recently concluded five-match Test series against England and Ponting feels it could be more of the same for Virat Kohli’s side Down Under.

India have never won a Test series in Australia, and although on paper they look well-equipped to pull off an upset taking into the account the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner, the former Australian skipper believes the spicy tracks on offer could bring the Indian batsmen’s deficiencies to the fore.

 'If the ball does swing around a lot or seam around a lot then I think India will find it difficult in Australia,' Ponting explained to Cricket Australia’s official website.

'I think any time we saw India struggle through the England series was when the ball moved. As soon as the ball started to move in the air, or seam, the Indian batsmen will always struggle. It's no different to when Australia go to the subcontinent and the ball spins from day one. We always struggle with that as well,' he went on to add.

With a top-order woefully out of form, the onus will as always be on Virat Kohli to deliver for his side if they are to come away with at least a win in the series; something they failed to achieve in their last two attempts.

While Kohli sparkled with the bat against England, his captaincy sparked a lot of debate. However, Ponting has backed the Indian skipper in this matter, stating, 'I've never sat back and tried to analyse what playing captains do as I know when I was captain on field is about 30 or 40 percent of what you need to be in control of. The rest of it happens behind closed doors or in the change rooms and quite often back in the hotel when you've got time to yourself.

'Trying to find ways to spend time with your teammates, learn about them inside out and trying to find a way to make them perform better on the field. It's not so much about a bowling change or a field placement as that part of the game is highly overrated as far as I'm concerned,” he added.

India’s tour of Australia begins in November, with the Men in Blue slated to play a three-match T20I series from 21st to 25th. The Test leg of the tour will begin on December 6th at Adelaide.