Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Bouncing back
After India’s batting frailties were brutally exposed in a 3-0 home series defeat by New Zealand, captain Rohit Sharma said it was important that his players get in the right frame of mind for what promises to be a challenging tour of Australia. The Black Caps became the first team to whitewash India at home in a series featuring three or more Tests after the hosts faltered while chasing 147 on Sunday.
For the young players who haven’t been there before, it’ll be important to create an environment where they are comfortable and aren’t intimidated by where they’re playing and who they’re playing against. It’s important that from our side, we keep telling them that it’s another place to play cricket.
Rohit Sharma, India captain
After being dismissed for 46 and 156 in Bengaluru and Pune, the latest capitulation left Indian great Sachin Tendulkar wondering whether it was just poor shot selection that let them down or if they lacked preparation and match practice. India’s batters must now prepare for the switch from the turning tracks on home soil to the pace and bounce of Australian pitches, with the opening Test in Perth looming on November 22.
“We do talk a lot about the game but sitting with every individual and telling them what needs to be done or how they need to get their mindset right is going to be challenging,” Rohit said. “They come with a certain mindset, certain thinking about their own games. It has given them success in the past. But we all understand Australia is going to be a different ball game.”
The 37-year-old added that it would be crucial to create the right atmosphere for those players who have not yet experienced the intensity of a Test in Australia.
“For the young players who haven’t been there before, it’ll be important to create an environment where they are comfortable and aren’t intimidated by where they’re playing and who they’re playing against,” he said. “It’s important that from our side, we keep telling them that it’s another place to play cricket.”
India will prepare for the series with three days of match simulations after scrapping a practice game. “We’ll be training at WACA, which is close to Optus (Perth Stadium) where you have that bounce and carry,” said Rohit, who said he is still unsure about playing the first match due to personal reasons. “Hopefully, we can use the three days perfectly and maximise how much ever we can from our point of view.”
India, who beat Australia away in 2018-19 and 2020-21, play five matches Down Under this time around and need to win four of them to reach a third successive World Test Championship final next year.
The legendary Sunil Gavaskar said that if Rohit is not playing in the first Test against Australia, then Jasprit Bumrah should lead the side for the entire tour Down Under.
NZ loss will impact India’s performance: Gilchrist
Sydney: Australian legends Adam Gilchrist and David Warner have little doubt that the Indian players’ psyche would have been scarred after the recent whitewash at home by New Zealand, but they said it will be naive to consider Rohit Sharma’s side “easy beats” in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“It does have an impact, more for the Indian players and the Indian team internally. They have to be asking themselves pretty hard questions,” former wicketkeeper-batter Gilchrist said.
“But I’m not expecting them to come out and be easy beats. Though I do think that loss and the fact that it was a clean sweep will raise some questions internally. The pressure and the expectation and the desire from a passionate cricketing nation to see that change around, that’ll ride heavily on the shoulders of all those players,” he added.
“There are a few ageing players who may start to even second guess themselves a little bit. There’re some high-class cricketers in that Indian squad. It’s going to be fascinating to see how they rebound from that challenge,” he added.
Former opener Warner said the Indian batters would be nervous against Australia’s attack. “It helps the Australian guys. They’re coming here for five Tests against Australia, who have three world class quick bowlers and a world class spinner, and I would be nervous if I am in their batting order,” said Warner.
The left-hander felt that countering pacers Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj would be key to Australia’s success in the upcoming series. “The Australian top order needs to make runs against Bumrah and Siraj who are their spearheads. I think if Australia can get through those two gentlemen, there could be some big runs put on the board,” he said.
