Sydney: Virat Kohli & Co scripted history when the Indian team visited Australia in 2018-19. The Virat Kohli-led side won the Test series, thereby becoming the first Indian team to achieve the feat in 71 years. India won the series 2-1 and Kohli became the first Asian captain to beat Aussies in their own backyard.
Two years down the line, the Indian team are once more here aiming to continue their hold on the Border-Gavaskar trophy. This is the first occasion India will be playing a bilateral series since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, after playing the ODIs and T20s and the first Test of the series, Kohli will return to India. He wants to be with wife Anushka Sharma when she delivers their first child.
There are speculations that the tour won’t be easy for India in Kohli’s absence. However, head coach Ravi Shastri has dismissed any suggestions regarding the team feeling any pressures.
“Where’s the pressure? We have come here and are going to play our natural game. I have told the boys to respect the terrain and the opponents but play fearless cricket,” Shastri was quoted as saying by ‘Sportstar’.
Shastri also stated that he is confident about the Indian pace attack achieving success despite the return of David Warner and Steve Smith to the Australian team. The last time India won the Test series, both Warner and Smith were serving a ban.
Shastri is aware of the fact that the participation of Ishant Sharma in the Test series is doubtful due to his injury. However, he believes that the five pacers named in the squad are very capable of producing sparkling cricket.
“We have a fabulous five – (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Shami, (Mohammed) Siraj, Umesh (Yadav) and Navdeep Saini. Yadav has the experience. Saini is young and fast. Bumrah one of the best in business. Shami is raring to go. Siraj is an exciting prospect. You put up runs on the board and watch these fast bowlers hunt the opposition. They can beat Australia in their own den,” asserted Shastri.
The Test series begins from December 17 in Adelaide with a day/night (D/N) game. Team India have the least experience of the same but Shastri wants his boys ‘to go and enjoy their game’.
“Our boys have not played much of pink-ball in domestic cricket, but I just want them to go and enjoy their game. What matters is that they will be having some match fitness for white-ball cricket. They now have to show if they have the will to adapt. Gain experience from here because god willing there won’t be a situation like this again. This challenge of the pandemic and quarantine,” said Shastri.
