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Former India head coach Ravi Shastri felt that India now find themselves in a strong position.
Ravi Shastri hope of India going all guns blazing at the MCG
The ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy stayed evenly poised after the third Test in Brisbane ended in a draw. Team India showcased excellent resilience on the last two days of the game after a troubled start, but Brisbane’s poor weather had the last laugh. Tasked to chase 275, India reached 8/0 when the rain interrupted the proceedings on the final day of the Test match, which eventually ended without a result.
As both teams move to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, India will look to carry forward the momentum they gained at The Gabba. Jasprit Bumrah, who has been shouldering India since the Perth Test, will be playing the anchor role once again but also needs optimum support from the rest of the teammates, especially the top-order batters.
Speaking in the latest episode of The ICC Review, former India head coach Ravi Shastri felt that India now find themselves in a strong position.
“They’ve been kept in this series single-handedly by Jasprit Bumrah,” Shastri said. “If the big boys wake up and step up to the plate, which I just get the gut feeling they will, then Australia has a problem on their hands.
“Yeah, they got out of jail, but they are not on bail. They are free birds in Melbourne. They can do what they want and come and attack Australia on Boxing Day,” he added.
With the series tied at 1-1 ahead of the Boxing Day Test, Shastri emphasised the significance of this moment in the context of the series, particularly with India’s challenging road ahead.
“Massive. They would give anything for a 1-1 result,” Shastri said, reflecting on the early stages of the series.
“The first Test is in Perth, the second Test is a day-nighter in Adelaide, and then the third Test in Brisbane. Any overseas team will, you know, settle for a 1-1 score because come Melbourne, come Sydney, I think India will be powerful.”
