Days after returning from the Test tour to Australia, Devdutt Padikkal seamlessly switched into white-ball mode and smashed a match-winning century for Karnataka against Baroda in the quarterfinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

He followed it up with another crucial 86 against defending champion Haryana to guide his side home to the summit clash. It was his seventh consecutive 50-plus score in List-A cricket, a format Padikkal revels in. He averages a staggering 82.52, which is the best in the world among players with more than 2000 runs.

“I enjoy batting in one-dayers because you have a situation where you have to adapt throughout the innings,” Padikkal told The Hindu recently. “You play the first 10 overs in the PowerPlay, then move out of it, and then again you have a different scenario in the end. 

“I enjoy adapting and changing my game as and when required. So that’s why, I guess, this is one of the best formats for me.”

For Padikkal, the current run is a continuation of a purple patch that started over a year ago, which helped the 24-year-old become India’s 314th Test cricketer when he debuted against England in Dharamshala in March 2024. 

Though he played only one more Test, the first game against Australia in Perth in the just-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Padikkal is enjoying this phase of his career.

“I am very motivated and looking forward to whatever is left of this season,” Padikkal said about being in a happy space. “Being part of the Test squad drives you even further to push those limits, and that’s all I’m going to be looking to do this season as well. It’s important that I keep my foot on the pedal and not take it off.”

While he made his India debut in 2021 as part of a second-string T20I squad that toured Sri Lanka, his return to the national colours last year was a tangible proof of his progress.

“It’s pretty surreal. As a cricketer growing up, you want to play Test cricket for India, and being there in that entire series in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was like a dream. Obviously, I would have liked to contribute more. But now, it is up to me to continue working hard and getting back up there,” said the stylish left-hander.

Padikkal first announced himself as one to watch out for in the 2019-20 domestic season, and followed it up with two good campaigns in the IPL for RCB.

However, shortly after that, his career graph dipped. He was also suffering from a gastrointestinal issue which compounded his problems. But last season, he hit his stride again, topping the run charts for his team in the Hazare Trophy and hitting three centuries in four Ranji Trophy outings. A century and two half-centuries for India-A against England Lions also ensured he was drafted into the Test squad against England.

“Technically, I did not make any changes; it remained the same,” explained Padikkal. “It was more about the mental part… to shift those limits I have been stuck with over the last 4-5 years. It was vital that I pushed myself to take that next step and came out of my comfort zone.”

“I think it’s all about having that hunger for runs,” Padikkal went on. “To be honest, everyone has the skill and talent to make it big at this level, but it’s all about that hunger… how badly you want it. 

“Sometimes, it’s very easy to get lost in the grind and forget why you started [playing cricket]. At the end of the day, you know you enjoy scoring runs. That’s something I have gone back to, and that’s helping me now,” he added.

Speaking about the health issue he suffered, Padikkal stated that it taught him a valuable lesson. “There were a lot of mitigating circumstances during that period. I felt sick, and I pretty much didn’t have any focus on cricket at that point.” 

“I had to make sure that I was healthy. So that was a pretty dragged-out problem that I suffered, and it made me physically weaker. Obviously, that put me in a position where I couldn’t push myself on the ground. 

“When you are in a state of mind where you are not entirely confident with your body, it transfers onto the ground and into your batting. So that was something that I had to go through in that phase. 

“Now that I have that experience behind me, I know how to handle situations where I am not feeling my best, and that has put me in a good state.”

At a time when the Test team might be readying itself to transition, Padikkal could be one of those from the next crop of batters who could be trusted to take over from the seniors.

“It’s important that we youngsters continue to keep pushing the limit, and are always ready to grab that opportunity because you never know when that comes. It could happen anytime. So it’s important that each time you go out to bat, you put yourself in a situation where you are getting ready to play at the highest level. 

“You need to make sure that you are putting in that effort day in and day out and have that discipline and commitment towards the game. If we continue to do that, we will be ready,” Paddikal said.

At 24, Padikkal has already seen the highs and lows of being a professional cricketer and might be hitting his groove at the right time.

“I have had a lot of experience at such a young age, and I have played a lot of cricket over the last 5-6 years as well. It’s good that I am in my mid-20s and now at a stage where I understand my game better. It’s going to be a really exciting time ahead for me,” Padikkal said, before signing off.

Australian captain Pat Cummins exchanges a handshake with Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah after winning the fifth Test match, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in Sydney on January 5, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Four out of five pitches used in the recent Border-Gavaskar Test series between India and Australia have been rated ‘very good’ by the ICC, which found the track for the fifth and final game in Sydney to be ‘satisfactory’, Cricket Australia announced on Wednesday (January 8, 2025).

The marquee five-match series ended 3-1 in favour of the hosts, who regained the Border Gavaskar Trophy after a decade and also qualified for the World Test Championship final in June against South Africa.

The tracks at the Optus Stadium in Perth, the Adelaide Oval, the Gabba in Brisbane and the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground received the highest rating, Cricket Australia stated in a press release.

The traditionally batting-friendly pitch at Sydney Cricket Ground, which ended up a notch below in the ratings, favoured bowlers this time. Batters from both the teams struggled for the majority of the Test which ended in two and half days.

“We encourage pitches that bring out the unique characteristics of that venue and this has long been a feature of Australian cricket,” Cricket Australia’s Head of Cricket Operations Peter Roach said in a media release while reacting to the ICC’s ratings.

“We don’t look to prepare wickets that favour the home side or suit our situation in a series. What we seek is a good contest between bat and ball and pitches that are likely to produce a result.

“Weather obviously plays a significant part in preparation and we know that even our most skilled curators are challenged at times by adverse weather,” he added.

Early pace, later spin at SCG

The Sydney track had a green top with variable bounce on offer and as many as 26 wickets fell on the first two days while four Indians and as many Australians were dismissed on day three as bowlers largely dominated the proceedings.

“The SCG has been striving to bring out their unique characteristics of early pace and bounce before the pitch wears and spins,” Roach said. 

“This year was a step in the right direction to achieving this which provided an exciting finish to the Border Gavaskar Trophy series and bodes well for the Ashes summer in 2025-26,” he added.

There was some debate around the SCG track after a few former players, including Indian great Sunil Gavaskar, called it “not ideal”. However, India head coach Gautam Gambhir had termed it as “spicy” but overall good for Test cricket.

“The series also emphasised the benefits of playing first-class cricket at major venues,” Roach said.

“It allows our curators to become more familiar with the different challenges that go into preparing wickets in different weather conditions, and also allows players to enter the Test team familiar with the conditions they will confront,” he added.

Former cricketer Yuvraj Singh. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

World Cup-winning former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has said that being whitewashed at home by New Zealand was a bigger low for Team India than the loss of Border-Gavaskar Trophy but refused to join the chorus of criticism against embattled veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

India have endured a difficult last few months in the five-day format, going down 0-3 to an under-strength New Zealand at home, which was a first in the team’s Test history. This was followed by a 1-3 drubbing by Australia in the away edition of the Border Gavaskar series.

Both the debacles have been largely attributed to the team’s batting frailties, especially those of Rohit and Kohli.

“According to me, losing (to) New Zealand is more hurting (sic). Because they are losing 3-0 at home. You know, that is not acceptable. This (losing BGT) is still acceptable because you have won two times in Australia. And this time you lost,” Yuvraj told ‘PTI Videos‘ in an interview in Dubai.

“Australia has been a dominant side for the last so many years, that is my thought,” the 43-year-old hero of India’s 2011 World Cup triumph said.

While Kohli managed at least a hundred during the series despite continuing to be dismissed whenever he was baited outside the off stump, Rohit was worse with a tally of just 31 runs and had to drop himself from the final Test.

But Yuvraj said it is unfair to lambast the duo given their past achievements.

“We are talking about our greats, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, we are saying very bad things about them,” he said.

“…people forget what they have achieved in the past. They are one of the greatest cricketers of this time. Okay, they lost, they did not play good cricket. They are getting hurt more than us,” he added.

Hopeful that India would bounce back strongly, Yuvraj said he has full faith in not just Rohit and Kohli but also new head coach Gautam Gambhir, who was his former teammate as well.

“I feel that Gautam Gambhir as a coach, Ajit Agarkar as a selector, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, they are the best minds in cricket right now,” he asserted.

“And they have to decide what’s the way for Indian cricket in future,” he said.

The big-hitting former batter also lauded Rohit for dropping himself from the Sydney Test, saying it was a selfless act.

“I think it is a big thing. I have never seen in the past that the captain’s form is not going well and he himself has gone out. And this is Rohit Sharma’s greatness that he has kept the team ahead of himself,” Yuvraj said.

“I think he is a great captain. Whether win or lose, he will always be a great captain. And in his captaincy, we have played the (ODI) World Cup final. We won a T20 World Cup. We have achieved a lot,” he pointed out.

He urged the critics to exercise restraint while dissecting the team’s performance.

“I was a student of the game and now I am a student of the game. The amount of cricket I have played, they have played more cricket than me,” said the man, who played 304 ODIs, 40 Tests and 58 T20 Internationals for India, amassing 11,000 runs across formats.

“I can give my opinion. And my opinion is that when players are not performing, it is easy to say bad about them. But it is very difficult to support them. Media’s job is to say bad about them. My job is to support my friends and brothers. For me, they are my family. Simple,” he signed off.

Australian team pose for a photo in the dressing room after reclaiming the Bordewr-Gavaskar trophy by defeating India 3-1 in Sydney.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Late on Sunday night, Mitchell Starc and some of his teammates got into a sports utility vehicle and left the Sydney Cricket Ground. The celebrations in the Australian dressing room stretched long and spilled onto the turf. Some ambled near the ropes and a few went close to the pitch.

Reclaiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade, the host has to thank the players who made this possible, and above all respect is owed to Pat Cummins. He bagged the wickets (25), scored vital runs (159), led well and Australia won by a 3-1 margin.

The Indians, meanwhile, had left the venue in the evening. They have enough to chew upon, grapple with and crease their foreheads. Commencing their tour with a 295-run victory in the first Test at Perth, the force was with them. The warm-up game against the Prime Minister’s XI at Canberra was pocketed too, before the campaign unravelled.

The Adelaide pink-ball Test was lost, and rain and the lower order secured a draw in Brisbane. And when R. Ashwin retired, the squad was in churn. The script turned morbid through a terrible last session and the Melbourne game was squandered. Finally at Sydney, even after snatching a four-run first innings lead, an inept second innings, despite Rishabh Pant’s fireworks, meant that Australia had an attainable target. An injured Jasprit Bumrah’s absence was a ghastly blow to India’s chances.

If one man had a large bearing on how India shaped up through this series, it was Bumrah, who also led in the first and fifth Test. His 32 wickets, till a back-spasm laid him low, meant that the Australian batters never felt they were fully settled at the crease. Every media interaction would involve a ‘Bumrah-question’ and the answers would range from shock to awe.

Among his support cast, Mohammed Siraj ran in all day. His effect may have varied but he has 20 wickets to show. The reality is if India capitulated eventually, a large share of the blame has to be apportioned to the batters. Skipper Rohit Sharma failed miserably, while Virat Kohli, after a ton at Perth, developed a fatal attraction around the off-stump. The former even skipped the last Test.

Meanwhile, with their bats, Yashasvi Jaiswal (391 runs), K.L. Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pant, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, had their moments. However, these were sporadic. A youngster like Shubman Gill going through a drought is also a cause for worry.

Coach Gautam Gambhir spoke about converting the 20s and 30s into big hundreds. However, this line-up seemingly lacks players, who can bat inexorably long. It was an attribute that Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman and Cheteshwar Pujara had. In all this talk about momentum, the fine-print about a draw being a honourable result was forgotten. If Melbourne was drawn, India would have reached Sydney at 1-1, and anything could have transpired.

Chairman Ajit Agarkar and his fellow selectors have to figure out the nucleus of the Test squad, starting with the England tour from June, later this year. After 2013, when India moved on from the Tendulkar era following his retirement, the present is another tipping point. There is no masking this grim truth, even if the glories secured in limited overs cricket, can be blinding at times.

India’s Jasprit Bumrah celebrates the wicket of Australia’s Travis Head on day four of the fourth cricket Test match between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on December 29, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

A slow walk gathering pace, legs suddenly whirring while approaching the bowling crease, back arching and the ball being released as if from a high-strung catapult. This is the signature Jasprit Bumrah style, almost similar to the manner in which aeroplanes gently roll before munching tarmac in the blink of an eye and being airborne.

In the latest Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, Bumrah has been at his menacing best. Stumps have been disturbed, edges grazed and such is his impact that even a delivery that may not necessarily demand a wicket would still yield one as batters rushed their shots.

Bumrah’s 30 wickets from four Tests

There was theatre when Shane Warne bowled; an equally dramatic rush happens when Bumrah is at work. Great players impose their will on contests. Kapil Dev during India’s 1991-92 tour Down Under bagged 25 wickets. Thirty two years later, another Indian fast bowler has 30 scalps from just four Tests while the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) awaits the fifth Test here from Friday.

Kapil’s was the late wind that lit up a stunning career in its twilight. For Bumrah, aged 31 and with 44 Tests under his belt, this is the middle stage, and his current tally of 203 wickets in cricket’s longer format is bound to quadruple. To bag 200 plus with an average of 19.42 is spectacular. He is the first bowler to get to this milestone while the average stayed below the twenty mark.

Prior to Rohit Sharma’s return as captain at Adelaide, Bumrah led India well in the triumphant first Test at Perth. While the subsequent contests witnessed Australia’s comeback and a series scoreline of 2-1 now favours the host, Bumrah has remained undaunted. Even as a tailender, he has put a price on his wicket.

After castling Sam Konstas in Australia’s second dig at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the speed merchant mimicked the opener’s crowd-rousing gestures. It was a rare hint of raw emotion. When Nathan Lyon suffered a similar outcome, the timber-dismantler just stood and held a cold gaze.

This was the hero in a Wild Western, gunning down rivals with a phlegmatic air. After going through the ‘Bumrah inquisition’ on the pitch, every Australian batter has been subjected to the ‘Bumrah question’ in press conferences. Their usual responses reflected shock and awe.

It is not easy to perform consistently while his regular partner Mohammed Shami is yet to resurface at the international level following injury and rehabilitation. The other Mohammed, Siraj, has slowly found a rhythm to gain 16 wickets. Akash Deep, meanwhile, has strived hard without luck.

All this meant that Rohit was often employing Bumrah in repetitive spells. The ‘shock’ bowler was now doubling up as a stock bowler, and it is a workload that the Indian captain is conscious about. When India strides out at the SCG, Bumrah is expected to replicate his excellence. It would be ideal if the batters too can contribute.

Readers of a certain vintage may remember a Sachin Tendulkar 100 being the lone balm while India lost. Now the roles are reversed. A Bumrah five-for is taken for granted even as the team slumps toward defeat’s shadow. He needs support from the rest of the playing eleven. Even then he will do all the heavy-lifting. Bumrah knows no other way.

After a long gap, Virat Kohli had a hundred in the first Test at Perth while skipper Rohit Sharma’s last came against England at Dharamshala in March last year. File photo
| Photo Credit: AFP

Late on Monday (December 30, 2024) the light dimmed on the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Seagulls descended on the turf, cleaning staff were busy removing the waste that a massive sporting contest tends to generate, and Australian cricketers lingered around, savouring their 184-run triumph against India in the fourth Test.

Marnus Labuschagne lay sprawled on the grass while a child scampered around him. There was laughter and giggles. If it was rainbow and sunshine for Pat Cummins and his men, there was sadness trailing the Indian unit. On two previous tours, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was secured. This time around, the visitors are trailing 1-2, and hoping to draw level in the final Test commencing at Sydney on January 3.

Australia remains a tough opponent in its backyard, and this was evident on the concluding day of the fourth Test. India was cruising at 121 for three, and this after a middle session in which Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant stabilised the second innings.

Suddenly, violating his own self-imposed restraint against the previous 103 deliveries he faced, Pant launched a lofted shot off Travis Head and the ball just found an alert Mitchell Marsh near the ropes. It was the game’s tipping point. From 121 for four, India slid to 155 all out.

The beauty of Test cricket is that it also offers space for a stalemate. However, in these frenetic times of winning at all costs, a draw is seen as an aberration. But a draw was indeed possible for India and that hinged on Jaiswal and Pant stretching their fourth-wicket partnership. It was not to be. An old truism is that batters who are set need to cash in.

In 1984, following rush-of-blood shots by Kapil Dev and Sandeep Patil against England at Delhi, the selectors wielded the axe. It was obviously an extreme measure and one that will not find an echo in these days of letting a player reveal his natural vibe. Still, Pant has to find a method in his madness.

If youngsters like Jaiswal and Pant did the hard yards but slipped at the final hurdle, the middling performance of veterans like skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli derailed the team. In the past, a tour of Australia has forced a closure to pedigreed Indian stars. Dilip Vengsarkar felt this effect after the 1991-92 tour. It was the same for Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman following their 2011-12 visit.

Down Under, either legacies are built or retirements get hastened. After a long gap, Kohli had a hundred in the first Test at Perth while Rohit’s last came against England at Dharamshala in March last year. Their drought in Tests often gets camouflaged through their flamboyance in limited overs cricket. Having bowed out of T20Is, while still being in the mix for Tests and ODIs, the captain and his predecessor need to perform.

Sadly, the efforts of Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Kumar and Washington Sundar in the fourth Test went in vain. It is time the batting clicks. K.L. Rahul has been an exception but he too could not prosper at the MCG. Runs on the board is a non-negotiable requirement and India’s willow-wielders have to respect that. There may be speculation about the selectors’ cold-tap on the shoulder, but for now Sydney awaits.

File photo of Australia head coach Andrew McDonald.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

In the season to be jolly, Sam Konstas has found his Christmas gift. A Test debut for Australia in a Boxing Day Test Melbourne is a huge step and the host’s coach Andrew McDonald confirmed to the media that the 19-year-old will pair up with Usman Khawaja atop the order.

Explaining the rationale behind picking Konstas in Melbourne on Tuesday (December 24, 2024), McDonald said: “We had said leading into the summer that age was no barrier. What he (Konstas) has shown is an array of shots, the ability to put pressure back onto the opponents. He gets his opportunity and we are really excited for him. Boxing day, the biggest stage (Melbourne Cricket Ground), you might as well get that one out of the way early. We want to throw a different challenge at India. We believe Nathan (McSweeney) is good enough for Test level but we weren’t sure about how the top order was functioning.”

The Australian coach also felt that Travis Head, nursing a niggle, is good to play: “I am pretty confident he will play. He looked good with the bat in hand. His skills are in good order. He had a small strain in the quadriceps but he has been able to do his running. I think he will be fully functional for the game.”

With the series level at 1-1 and the fourth Test all set to start on Thursday (December 26, 2024), McDonald offered his analysis: “Every game starts afresh. Both teams have similar challenges at the moment. Both bowling attacks have been on top and I think this wicket potentially might offer the batters a little bit more as the game stretches. But yeah I am not a big believer in history repeating itself so it starts afresh.”

The coach also backed Khawaja: “Usman is not a concern. I think the way he is preparing, the runs will come. Batting obviously in recent times has been quite difficult with ball dominating bats. Good players always return to the runs and I am sure that will be the case over the next couple of Tests.”

Head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah are seen during the inspection of the pitch at MCG in Melbourne on December 24, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

In a tiny press-conference hall located in the basement of the massive Melbourne Cricket Ground, Rohit Sharma kept nodding his head. Even before the correspondent had finished enquiring about his left knee, the Indian skipper said: “It’s fine, it’s fine.”

The batter had suffered a blow during Sunday’s training but on Tuesday (December 24, 2024), Rohit was in good shape. If there was clarity on this issue, he preferred to keep the scribes guessing when asked about whether he will stay in the middle-order: “Who bats where is something that we need to figure out within ourselves. It’s not a thing which I should be discussing at every press-conference.”

Stepping into the fourth Test with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series level at 1-1, the visiting captain said: “We played some really good cricket and we have been fortunate as well. Nobody wants to give up until the last over and this is an attitude we have carried for a long time. Obviously in Adelaide (second Test), we didn’t play well. And then at Brisbane, only 180 or 190 overs were bowled. After three Tests, if I had to look at it as one-all, it is a fair reflection.”

Looking ahead at the last two contests, starting with the fourth Test in Melbourne from Thursday (December 26, 2024), Rohit said: “We want to break it down to just Melbourne and focus on what we can achieve here. Bat well, bowl well, and take some good catches.”

The skipper was quick to back Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj: “Jaiswal has already shown what he is capable of, and with that kind of a guy, you don’t want to tamper with his mindset.” And on Gill, Rohit added: “These tours can be challenging and it is not easy to put up big runs. Gill understands his batting well, just got to make sure that when you get those 30s and 40s, you try and get a big one.”

With Siraj being in Jasprit Bumrah’s shadow, there have been the odd query about the former’s relevance, and Rohit was quick to counter: “Siraj has really shown great attitude on this tour.” As for Pant, the skipper said: “He has a good record in Australia and just after three Tests here, it is not right to judge.”

When asked if he has any advice to a ‘modern-day great’ like Virat Kohli, Rohit quipped: “Modern day greats will figure their own path.” Later when probed about including spinner Tanush Kotian, Rohit clarified: “Tanush was here a month back and Kuldeep (Yadav) I don’t think has a visa. Jokes apart, we wanted somebody here quickly. Tanush has done well in the last two years and we wanted a back-up in case we need two spinners here or in Sydney.”

Rohit also praised Bumrah: “He knows exactly what he is doing. The impact he has had on this series is massive.” And soon it was time for the skipper to join his teammates at training.

File photo of Mohammed Shami
| Photo Credit: PTI

India pacer Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the last two Tests against Australia as he is yet to regain full fitness, the BCCI said on Monday (December 23, 2024).

Shami, who last played for India in the ODI World Cup final in November, 2023, made a comeback from his right heel surgery during Bengal’s Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh last month.

With calls for his selection growing, Shami played all nine games for Bengal in the subsequent Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy. He is also part of Bengal’s squad for the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy but did not play the opening game on Saturday against Delhi.

His fitness has been a subject of intense debate and speculation, so much so that India skipper Rohit Sharma had asked the physios at the National Cricket Academy to provide clarity on the matter following the Brisbane Test.

Shami had developed swelling in his knees while playing the SMAT, and the clarification in that regard finally came on Monday.

“Based on the current medical assessment, the BCCI Medical Team has determined that his knee requires more time for controlled exposure to bowling loads. Consequently, he has not been deemed fit for consideration for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” said the BCCI in a release.

“Shami will continue to undergo targeted strength and conditioning work under the guidance of the medical staff at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence and build his bowling loads needed to meet the demands of the longest format of the game. His participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will depend on the progress of his knee.” The medical team said the veteran fast bowler has fully recovered from the heel injury that kept him out of action after the ODI World Cup.

“The BCCI Medical Team at the Centre of Excellence has been working closely with Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami on his recovery and rehabilitation after his right heel surgery. Shami has completely recovered from this heel problem.

“However, his left knee has exhibited minor swelling due to increased joint loading from his bowling workload. The swelling is on the expected lines, owing to the increased bowling after a prolonged period,” the BCCI said.

Shami bowled 43 overs in his comeback game in the Ranji Trophy.

Following that, he played in all nine games of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where he also “engaged in additional bowling sessions on the sidelines to build his bowling volume in order to get ready for the Test matches.” The 34-year-old has taken 229 wickets in 64 Tests, 195 scalps in 101 ODIs and 24 wickets in 23 T20 Internationals.

With India relying heavily on Jasprit Bumrah in Australia, Shami’s presence in the bowling attack would have provided a much needed boost.

With skipper Rohit Sharma struggling to decipher a way to score runs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, former India coach Ravi Shastri says the stylish batter should go in with a clear mindset, change his tactics, and attack the bowlers.
| Photo Credit: AP

With skipper Rohit Sharma struggling to decipher a way to score runs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, former India coach Ravi Shastri says the stylish batter should go in with a clear mindset, change his tactics, and attack the bowlers.

Rohit missed the opening Test Down Under to be with his family for the birth of his second child. He was expected to reclaim the opener’s spot but KL Rahul’s impressive 77 in India’s win at Perth prompted a rejig of the batting order with Rohit moving down to No.6.

The change though has not been fruitful for Rohit as he has managed 10, 3 and 6 runs in the last three innings, while Rahul has encashed on the opportunity by notching up a fine 84 in the first innings at Brisbane in the third Test.

“I would like to see Rohit Sharma, his tactics change a bit because he can still be extremely dangerous at that number (six),” Shastri opined on ICC Review.

“I think he’s got to be very clear in his mindset to go out there and take the attack to the opposition and not worry about anything else,” the cricketer-turned-commentator added.

Shastri felt Rohit should shun the defensive mindset.

“The last thing you want is him to be in two minds whether to defend or attack. In his case, it should be attack. He picks up length quickly, he should take the opposition on at that number.

“Because if he gets away in the first 10-15 minutes, in any way, he’s not got past that 15-20 minutes, half an hour. So why don’t you play a natural game, go and take the attack to the opposition and take it from there?” Shastri felt it’s the best way for Rohit to get back into form and win games for India, adding that the best No.6 batters in the world are those who have the ability to counter-attack.

“I think that is his best way of not just coming back into form, winning a game for India as well. Because that number is a crucial number.”

“The best No.6s in the world are the guys who know how to have the ability to counter-attack. They read the situation well. Yes, if a lot of wickets have fallen, maybe for a little while. You might have to be circumspect, but the intent has to be far sooner than later.

“Especially when you have that kind of ability and especially when you open the batting for India and you have all the shots for Australian conditions.” Rohit had made his Test debut in 2013 at No. 6 position, marking the occasion with a century.

Shastri backed Rahul to retain the opener’s slot in the fourth Test following his two half-centuries so far in the five-Test series.

“I would have asked him (Rohit) to open in the last Test match (Brisbane) but then the way Rahul has batted, he was a joy to watch and the way he’s batting, I believe he struck a purple patch,” Shastri said.

“It could be a position he might just want to keep and enhance the way he’s playing because his technique was faultless,” said Shastri.

The former India captain said Rahul was currently at the top of his game and his confidence level too was very high.

“The way he left the ball, the way he allowed the ball to come onto the bat, some of his cover drives were as good as any played by anyone in world cricket at the moment. And so I think when there’s that much confidence there, you know, let it be.”