New Delhi. What happened this time during the Australia tour that the Indian team lost 3 out of 5 test matches. Team India, which had held the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the last 10 years, where did it go wrong? There are thousands of excuses for defeat, but we can explain it in two words. Negative approach… Yes, this was the biggest reason for the defeat of Team India. And we are not saying this. This is the essence of the words of stalwarts like Sunil Gavaskar, Sanjay Manjrekar, Sanjay Bangar and Irfan Pathan.
India-Australia Test series started from Perth and ended in Sydney. India won the first match of the series, but then the train derailed. Australia leveled the series by winning the second test. After this the third test match also remained a draw. The series, which remained tied at 1-1 for three matches, finally ended 3-1 in favor of Australia. By winning the fourth and fifth matches of the series, host Australia not only captured the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also secured the ticket for the WTC final.
1. What was the hurry…
The first thing to be talked about was the Sydney Test, in which India lost despite coming close to winning. India took a lead of 4 runs in the first innings in this fifth test match. After this, when India came out to bat, every batsman was in a hurry. There were three days left in the match, but Team India had decided that it would not have to play more than 50 overs. As a result, the team was limited to 157 runs in just 39.5 overs. On Team India’s approach, Sunil Gavaskar said what is the hurry to score runs. It seems that the Indian batsmen do not have confidence that they can survive on the pitch. That’s why they want to add runs quickly, but this is a negative approach. If you have to score runs then play your natural game.
2. There was less focus on bowling…
India played with a negative approach not only in the Sydney Test but in the entire series. Former cricketer Sanjay Bangar says that the Indian team’s focus throughout the series was on the depth of batting. The number eight player was selected considering whether he bats well or not. There was less focus on whether he could take wickets or not.
3. Sundar bowled one over in Sydney
Despite the pitch being conducive to fast bowlers, India entered the Sydney Test with 3 specialist bowlers and 3 all-rounders. Among them, two were spin all-rounders (Jadeja and Sundar). This combination looks more like a T20 match than the playing eleven of a Test team. The team’s third all-rounder Washington Sundar bowled one over in this match when the defeat was certain. Jasprit Bumrah had left the match midway due to injury. Despite this, the lack of need for Sundar’s bowling proved that his selection in the playing eleven was wrong.
4. Missed the fourth fast bowling
Sanjay Manjrekar said several times during the commentary that it would have been better if India had entered Sydney with four specialist fast bowlers. Sanjay Manjrekar said that it was a big mistake to enter Sydney with two spinners. It was clear from the first day what the pitch was like. Four fast bowlers should have been fielded on this pitch.
5. The third bowler changed the entire series
Irfan Pathan said that if any one thing made the biggest difference in this series, it was the third fast bowler. The bowler who came in the first change for Australia took wickets at an average of about 18. For India, the average of the wickets of the third bowler who came at the first change was around 36.
Tags: Border Gavaskar Trophy, India vs Australia, Sydney Test, Team india
FIRST PUBLISHED : January 5, 2025, 08:58 IST