- The Indian cricket team, especially in the classical format of the game, is at a crossroads courtesy of the imminent exit of some of the most accomplished cricketers of the generation. Cricketers of the caliber of the talismanic Virat Kohli, the hitman Rohit Sharma, scientist Ravichandran Ashwin, and the charismatic Ravindra Jadeja are at the twilight of a glittering career is stating the obvious. As you read this, Ravi Ashwin has announced retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, and that too in the middle of the ongoing five-match Test series down under. Ashwin followed MS Dhoni who too announced his retirement while touring down under in the middle of the series. There is an inkling that some more would follow suit at the end of the series.
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PC: Business standard
- Coming back to the ongoing series, the third Test at the Gabba, Brisbane ended in a tame draw mainly because of the rain interruptions witnessed throughout the game. Of course, Team Australia was in a commanding position to win the match riding on yet another flop batting show by the visitors. The lack of preparation, commitment, focus, and technical flaws that have crept into some of the most revered batters showcase underwhelming performance in Australia known for tough conditions for the visiting teams. It is frustrating to watch how Team India has fared so far in the series. Remember, Team India did win the last two series in Australia by performing extraordinarily to tame the lion in its own den. That spark is missing in the current series though.
PC: Crictoday
- Except for KL Rahul to an extent, none of the frontline batters have shown the consistency to tackle the formidable Aussie pace bowlers. Yes, opener Yashaswi Jaiswal scored a century as did Virat Kohli at Perth. But after that, the Aussie bowlers bettered the Indian batters with ridiculous ease. The fallibility of Jaiswal and Kohli outside the off-stump has starkly exposed the technical deficiency leading to their cheap dismissal. Jaiswal is a great talent who is expected to be the next big thing in Indian cricket. Kohli appears to be battling inner demons yet again unable to resist temptation from fishing outside off stump leading to cheap dismissals. The less said the better about captain Rohit Sharma who is completely out of form and struggling to put bat to ball.
PC: Hindustan Times
- Rishabh Pant has been quiet so far with the bat though his performance behind the stumps is spectacular. Of course, the saving grace has been the Indian bowlers led by the indefatigable Jasprit Bumrah who is operating at an entirely different level right from the first Test match. Bumrah is already being bracketed among the greats of the game speaks volumes about how fearsome reputation he has built among his compatriots through outstanding performances in all formats of the game. Aussies must be ruing for not declaring early in the first innings allowing them more time to go at the struggling Indian batters at Gabba. Of course, the rain interruptions too aided in Team India scraping with a draw. Over to Melbourne and Sydney!
