NEW DELHI: Team India clinched back-to-back Border-Gavaskar Trophy victories in Australia — first under Virat Kohli ’s captaincy in 2018-19 and then under Ajinkya Rahane in 2020-21. Now, with Rohit Sharma leading the side, India are aiming for an unprecedented third straight series win on Australian soil.
The build-up, however, hasn't been ideal as India were recently whitewashed 3-0 by New Zealand at home. The series has raised serious questions and has hurt the side's World Test Championship final qualification chances. Rohit Sharma and Co. now need to win at least four of their five Tests Down Under to secure their WTC final berth.
Despite the setback, former India pacer and chief selector Chetan Sharma is confident that Team India will perform well in Australia and will return with flying colors.
"I am 100 percent sure India will beat Australia in Australia. Hum Rohit ki kaptaani mein hat trick karenge Australia mein. India iss baar bhi Australia ko patakhni degi unke hi ghar mein [Under Rohit’s captaincy, we’ll make it a hat trick in Australia. India will defeat Australia on their own turf once again]. We have always enjoyed when India tour Australia, South Africa, or England. The best part is that we now enter as series-winning contenders whenever we tour overseas," Chetan told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.
Chetan, who played 23 Tests and 65 ODIs for India, believes the pressure will be on Australia, not Team India.
"We have already defeated Australia twice in their own backyard. They must be worried, not us. Pressure is on Australia, not India. The pressure is on Pat Cummins, not Rohit Sharma. Jaha unke players keh rhe hain ki ye achi series hogi, to samajh lijiye kitni ghabrahat hogi unke ander [When their players are saying that this will be a good series, understand how much nervousness they must be feeling inside]," Chetan said.
ROHIT AND VIRAT'S FORM
India's star batters Rohit and Virat are woefully out of form and both had underwhelming outings in the recent series vs New Zealand. While Rohit scored only 91 runs in six innings, Kohli returned with a tally of 93 runs in the same number of outings. Chetan has backed Virat and Rohit and praised young talents Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, who have been thriving under the guidance of these experienced players.
"Let's honour and respect what Rohit and Virat have done for the country. Players like Rohit and Virat are never out of form. They are never in a lean or bad patch. These words shouldn't be used for them. We are thankful to them. They are still doing it. We always talk about them and focus on them and want them to shine every time because they are superstars. Just wait and watch what Rohit and Virat do in Australia. They will dazzle with their bats," he said.
"The new talents like Yashasvi, Shubman, or Ruturaj are doing their best to take the legacy forward. Shubman and Yashasvi have impressed me a lot. Shubman and Yashasvi have learned a lot from Virat and Rohit while sharing the field and dressing room with them," he added.
Following the opening Test in Perth on November 22, the second match will be a day-night Test at Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10.
The series will then move to The Gabba in Brisbane for the third Test from December 14 to 18, followed by the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The fifth and final Test will be held in Sydney, starting on January 3.
The build-up, however, hasn't been ideal as India were recently whitewashed 3-0 by New Zealand at home. The series has raised serious questions and has hurt the side's World Test Championship final qualification chances. Rohit Sharma and Co. now need to win at least four of their five Tests Down Under to secure their WTC final berth.
Despite the setback, former India pacer and chief selector Chetan Sharma is confident that Team India will perform well in Australia and will return with flying colors.
"I am 100 percent sure India will beat Australia in Australia. Hum Rohit ki kaptaani mein hat trick karenge Australia mein. India iss baar bhi Australia ko patakhni degi unke hi ghar mein [Under Rohit’s captaincy, we’ll make it a hat trick in Australia. India will defeat Australia on their own turf once again]. We have always enjoyed when India tour Australia, South Africa, or England. The best part is that we now enter as series-winning contenders whenever we tour overseas," Chetan told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.
Chetan, who played 23 Tests and 65 ODIs for India, believes the pressure will be on Australia, not Team India.
"We have already defeated Australia twice in their own backyard. They must be worried, not us. Pressure is on Australia, not India. The pressure is on Pat Cummins, not Rohit Sharma. Jaha unke players keh rhe hain ki ye achi series hogi, to samajh lijiye kitni ghabrahat hogi unke ander [When their players are saying that this will be a good series, understand how much nervousness they must be feeling inside]," Chetan said.
ROHIT AND VIRAT'S FORM
India's star batters Rohit and Virat are woefully out of form and both had underwhelming outings in the recent series vs New Zealand. While Rohit scored only 91 runs in six innings, Kohli returned with a tally of 93 runs in the same number of outings. Chetan has backed Virat and Rohit and praised young talents Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, who have been thriving under the guidance of these experienced players.
"Let's honour and respect what Rohit and Virat have done for the country. Players like Rohit and Virat are never out of form. They are never in a lean or bad patch. These words shouldn't be used for them. We are thankful to them. They are still doing it. We always talk about them and focus on them and want them to shine every time because they are superstars. Just wait and watch what Rohit and Virat do in Australia. They will dazzle with their bats," he said.
"The new talents like Yashasvi, Shubman, or Ruturaj are doing their best to take the legacy forward. Shubman and Yashasvi have impressed me a lot. Shubman and Yashasvi have learned a lot from Virat and Rohit while sharing the field and dressing room with them," he added.
Following the opening Test in Perth on November 22, the second match will be a day-night Test at Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10.
The series will then move to The Gabba in Brisbane for the third Test from December 14 to 18, followed by the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The fifth and final Test will be held in Sydney, starting on January 3.
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