Australia vs India 1st Test live streaming, Steven Smith
Cricket - India v Australia - Australia team practice session - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India - 22/02/17. Australia's captain Steve Smith speaks to team coach Darren Lehmann. Reuters / Danish Siddiqui

India will host Australia in the first of four Test matches at the MCA Stadium in Pune, Maharashtra, starting Thursday. The home team, currently ranked the No. 1 team in the ICC Test Rankings, begin the series as the overwhelming favourites against an inexperienced Australian squad led by captain Steven Smith.

Virat Kohli's men have not lost a Test match, at home or elsewhere, since August 2015, an impressive streak that has lasted 19 consecutive matches. At home, India have not tasted defeat since Dec. 2012 when they crumbled to Alastair Cook's English squad at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Clearly, the Aussies have a stiff task ahead of them against an Indian team that is expected to field three spinners in their playing XI, namely R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Jayant Yadav.

Meanwhile, the Aussies have lost an unprecedented nine consecutive Test matches in Asia. Last year, they were whitewashed 3-0 by the Sri Lankans after spinner Rangana Herath tested their resolve in the customary slow and low surfaces of the Indian subcontinent. As ESPNCricinfo's Brydon Coverdale rightfully questions, have the Australians learned from that experience? "Nine men who played in that series (in Sri Lanka) are part of the squad in India. What have they learnt from that experience? We are about to find out."

When Australia last toured India in 2013, the spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja combined for an incredible tally of 53 wickets as the home side romped to a comfortable series-win. Michael Clarke, the former Australian captain, was the only batsman from the visiting squad to notch up a century during the four-Test series. This time around, the Aussies are counting on the recent success of David Warner, who, according to many analysts, could prove to be the ultimate difference-maker for the visiting team.

Australia vs India 1st Test: Playing XI

Australia: David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Steven Smith (capt), Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Starc, Steve O'Keefe, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

India: KL Rahul, M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav.

Australia vs India 1st Test live streaming: Where to watch Pune Test?

Start time: 9:30 a.m. (IST), 2:00 p.m. (AEST) 3:00 p.m. (AEDT), 11:00 p.m. Wednesday (ET)

Pune Test Live Stream, cricket live streaming and TV information
Australia: TV: Fox Sports. Live Streaming: Foxtel GO, Foxtel Play
India: TV: Star Sports HD1, Star Sports HD3, Star Sports 1, Star Sports 3. Live Streaming: Hotstar.
New Zealand: TV: Sky Sport 4. Live Streaming: Sky Go NZ.
Canada and USA: TV: Willow TV. Live Streaming: Willow TV Online.