India vs Australia | Any team playing at home are always favourites, says Ajinkya Rahane

Team India will face off against Australia in a four-match Test series which is scheduled to start from December 6. After a dominant display against Windies at home, Virat Kohli & Co. are being touted as favourites ahead of the challenge that awaits them Down Under. 

But Ajinkya Rahane has quashed claims that India will be the favourites and backed the home team to perform well in the upcoming series. Rahane added that any team playing at home will always be considered favourites to win a series.

"I feel that any team that plays at home, they feel really good, and I feel that Australia are still the favourites to win the series. We are not going to take them lightly at all. Yes, they (will) miss Steve Smith and David Warner but I don't think they are vulnerable."

"You see their bowling attack, they've got a really good bowling attack, and I think to win Test matches, you need to have a really good bowling attack. So I feel that Australia are really still the favourites," Rahane told Reuters.

Last time Rahane was in Australia, he and Kohli put up a batting masterclass on the Boxing Day test as the put together a fourth-wicket stand of 262 in India's first innings with scores of 147 and 169 respectively. The Mumbai-born batsman hoped to replicate that same form this time around as well.

"Last time here, we really enjoyed batting together a lot, especially at the MCG," Rahane recalled. Mitchell Johnson was really going after Virat Kohli and I was at the other end playing my game. Virat at the other end was really aggressive and going after bowlers. I was able to focus on my game, I still attacked but I was completely the opposite to Virat," Rahane added.