Heading into the 2018–19 series, Australia was without its top-order batsman David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft due to the 2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town against South Africa. Ishant Sharma prior to the start of the series, stated "That’s the biggest opportunity for us right now". This was proven with Australian media stating that it was the best opportunity for India to win the trophy and the series in Australia.