The war of words hasn’t started yet but the early jitters of another see-saw series Down Under are already being felt.
If the “hungry” Australians are focusing on completing “ten years of unfinished business”, as Nathan Lyon put it, the Indian think-tank is concentrating on putting the finishing touches to their squad for the series.
Australia haven’t won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since 2014-15 with India prevailing in the last two meetings Down Under by an identical 2-1 margin in 2018-19 and
2020-21.
Captain Pat Cummins has also been clear about his plans. He is currently off bowling for two months to focus on his fitness and endurance ahead of the tough battles.
“It’s the trophy I haven’t won before… this is the one trophy a lot of our group haven’t ticked off... That’s what lies ahead of us this summer,” Cummins told Fox Sports.
A series in Australia is not just limited to skill and temperament, it’s about grit
and gumption besides the mental warfare.
Cheteshwar Pujara almost went through a similar situation on the final day of the Brisbane Test in January 2021 when India knocked off 328 runs to secure a famous win, though Rishabh Pant was the X-factor with his unbeaten 89.
Nevertheless Pujara, the No.3, stood like a rock, refusing to grimace as the Australian pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Cummins and Josh Hazlewood landed close to a dozen blows on his body leaving him with a swollen finger and bruised torso. Pujara showed that he could gulp down the pain, never flinching in the face of pace. His immense contribution can never be forgotten as India clinched the series following a disastrous 36 all out in the first Test. He returned as India’s most successful batter with 271 runs in four Tests.
When India won their first series in Australia in 2018-19, Pujara had topped the batting charts with 521 runs in seven innings. There were three centuries including an epochal 193 in the final Test in Sydney.
As Rohit Sharma’s men plan their course of action, Pujara’s absence is sure to be felt. The ability to blunt the attack with sheer resilience, session after session, and hold the innings together play a huge role in the outcome of a Test.
Rohit and new head coach Gautam Gambhir’s primary task will be to find a batter who can fit into Pujara’s shoes and perform to perfection. While the likes of Virat Kohli and Pant can counter attack and instil fear in the minds of the bowlers, the need to hold one end up can never be undermined.
Perhaps the ensuing Duleep Trophy will provide an insight into Gambhir’s search for an inspirational batter. Shubman Gill has shown such tenacity in the past but he has the tendency to throw away good starts.
Australia’s batting too can’t rest easy. India is expected to be at full strength
with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami leading the attack. Mohammed Siraj
will be the third seamer but the fourth seamer’s spot could be up for grabs.
Left-armer Arshdeep Singh is being talked about in several quarters and the decision to pick him for the Duleep Trophy seems to be well thought-out move. But does he have it in him to achieve success with the red ball?
Mayank Yadav though hasn’t been dismissed by the selectors. He has played just one first-class match so far and how his body holds up to the rigours of five-day Tests will be crucial.
If he’s fit, he could be on the flight to Australia, along with Mukesh Kumar, since sheer pace always makes
a difference.
India had opened in Adelaide during their last two tours but this time Perth will host the first Test from November 22. Four pacers can’t be ruled out since Australia’s batting has been circumspect against quality attack.
There will be no David Warner, Steve Smith seems to have lost his batting aura
and even Marnus Labuschange has been inconsistent. The England attack had
exposed several such chinks
in the last Ashes. Their top-order will largely depend on Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh though opener Usman Khawaja has the ability to frustrate the bowlers.
Will Australia risk green tops against Bumrah and Shami? Will they go for pitches which help the spinners since Nathan Lyon has the ability to make an impact? India’s batters’ inability to counter turn and drift, as witnessed during the ODI series in Sri Lanka, could be tempting.
However, the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav could also benefit from such surfaces. It could prove to be a double-edged sword.
A lot will depend on how Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood perform. The home captain has also spoken about the "huge" impact all-rounders, like Cameron Green and Marsh, can make.
India’s top-order can’t afford slip-ups and if they show the guts to stand up and take the blows, Cummins’ men are sure to feel the pressure. A hat-trick of series wins in Australia is possible if Gambhir finds his Pujara from the current set of youngsters.
