Bookies, who have started accepting bets for the forthcoming India-Australia test series, have declared Australia as the favourite. A significant portion of the interest is thanks to Sachin Tendulkar’s much-awaited 100th century. Primarily operating from Gujarat and Rajasthan, bookies said they expect to do a business of anything between `1,000 to `1,200 crore for each match.
“Most of the bookies will not operate from Mumbai. They will be operating from hotel rooms and farmhouses,” a city-based bookie said.
According to the bookie, for the four test matches to be played from December 26 in Australia, they have declared Australia as their favourite to win the series. While Australia has been placed at `1.17, India is at `2.20. A series draw is placed at `2.85. Bookies said the pitches at all four stadiums where the matches are to be played — Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Sydney — are favourable for fast bowlers and since Australia has good fast bowlers, they will be benefiting from them.
The bookies have also come out with their rates for Tendulkar achieving the milestone of 100 centuries in international cricket in the very first test match to be played at Melbourne. Tendulkar’s century is placed at `4.50 while for a half century, the bookies are accepting bets at `1.75.
Rahul Dravid has been declared the favourite for scoring the maximum number of runs from India, while from Australian, the bookies chosen captain Michael Clarke. While Dravid has been placed at `4.50, Clarke is placed at `4.70.
The bookies also plan to accept “sessions bets” (fancy bets) on things like scores in the first 20 overs or who will take the maximum number of wickets in every inning.
“We will also take bets on what will be scored in an inning. We expect to do business to the tune of `1,000 to `1,200 crore per match,” he said.