Former head coach Ravi Shastri has asked Team India to leave behind their loss in New Zealand and focus on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The series begins on November 22 in Perth.
India’s Unexpected Defeat
India recently suffered a 3-0 defeat against New Zealand. This was their first home Test series loss in 12 years. The loss also impacted their ICC World Test Championship standings.
Despite the setback, Shastri remains hopeful. He believes India can still qualify for next year’s World Test Championship Final at Lord’s. “India will be smarting from that defeat in the series against New Zealand because they were caught unawares. They were a little complacent and paid the price for it. That said, this Indian team is a very proud one,” Shastri said during The ICC Review.
A Crucial Challenge
To reach the final, India must win four out of five Tests in Australia. Shastri emphasized the need for a strong start. “The best way to bounce back from such a series is to start another one strongly. So, the first two Tests become extremely crucial,” he explained.
India’s past performances highlight the importance of a solid opening. During the 2018/19 tour of Australia, they won the first Test in Adelaide by 31 runs. Cheteshwar Pujara’s century played a key role in that victory.
Learning from the Past
Shastri encouraged the team to take inspiration from their previous successes in Australia. Under Virat Kohli, India won their first-ever Test series in Australia in 2018. They repeated the feat in 2021, despite facing injuries and missing key players.
“The key will be to ensure they start well and keep the players in a good frame of mind. That will be the coach’s most important task,” Shastri said.
Batters Hold the Key
Shastri believes the batters need to step up early in the series. He urged the team to stay confident and focus on the positives.
“Confidence is key. They must focus on the positives, think about what they achieved in Australia last time, and build on that. Put the New Zealand loss behind them. These are different conditions, and some Australian tracks are the best to bat on once you settle in. It’ll be a totally different scenario when they get out there,” he concluded.
With the series just days away, India will aim to regain form and make a strong start in Australia.