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India managed to beat Australia at Perth despite opting to bench senior players Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, and the team’s assistant coach Nayar opined that the duo had no issues with not being included despite their status as stalwarts considering the best interest of…Read More
Abhishek Nayar. (X)
Team India registered a stunning 295-run triumph over Australia in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Perth to take a surprise 1-0 lead down under.
India managed to pull off the heist despite opting to bench spin twins Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, and the team’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar opined that the duo had no issues with not being included in the playing eleven despite their status as senior players and stalwarts of the game.
“It’s only tough when you have seniors who don’t understand it. But when you have seniors like Jaddu and Ash who understand what the team is trying to do, it becomes very easy,” Nayar said.
The 41-year-old revealed that the unit had bought into the ‘team-first’ philosophy professed by head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma
“Because the team first policy is something that Rohit and Gauti bhai believe in,” Nayar added.
“I feel they have all bought into it. So I felt very happy that Jaddu and Ashwin are going to help the younger guys so that they do well here,” he continued.
“It wasn’t very hard to explain them and culture is such that everyone wants Team India to win,” the former all-rounder said.
However, he did not rule out the possibility of including the stalwarts in the upcoming games of the series and added that the experienced duo would get their calling.
“I always feel in a game of cricket, nobody is out of the game and whether you are a spinner or a fast bowler, you are always in with a chance,” Nayar explained.
“Yes, your plans will change, how you release the ball and at what pace, will change, which is why you want to prepare with the pink ball,” he continued.
“Maybe, a little more challenging than the red ball and primarily because you haven’t bowled as much with the pink ball. But I believe any top-class spinner will have an opportunity,” he added.
India resume the BGT on the 6th of December with the second Test of the series set to be played at the Adelaide Oval.
