- The ignominious defeat in the first cricket Test match at Adelaide that saw Indian batsmen decimated to the lowest ever score of 36 should be forgotten as a bad dream and Team India should start preparing for the boxing day Test at Melbourne afresh. Easier said than done though as the humiliating defeat will go down in the history of Indian cricket as one of the most forgettable outings and will take an enormous amount of effort to overcome the sound pasting. The only way to get healed is to consistently play inspirational cricket from now on.
PC: Daksh Shukla
- As the saying goes – when the going gets tough, the tough get going – the motivational sentence should hold good for the severely battered Team India too as they seek to redeem themselves in the eyes of their millions of followers. They will be up against an opposition who are extremely intimidating in their backyards and any true cricket observer would know the Aussies would wish to roll over the Indian team without conceding an inch. However, as often it is proved, not for nothing cricket is called a game of glorious uncertainties and it has proved time and again it will remain so.
- Team India on its part must first believe that they are capable of not only bouncing back by being competitive but also firmly trust to overcome the Aussie challenges to beat them. On paper, the proposition might sound too daunting in the absence of the talismanic Captain Virat Kohli. However, the situation offers an opportunity for the talented bunch to rise to the occasion in mounting a spirited comeback. Cricketers like Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul (if inducted), and Mayank Agarwal/Hanuma Vihari, Jasprit Bumrah, R Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja are no pushovers either and can be a handful.
PC: Reuters
- Each one of them is endowed with awe-inspiring skillsets challenging the best in the world. What is required now is a collective resounding effort from each one of these talented cricketers to perform optimally to erase the recent thrashing. Not impossible by any stretch of the imagination but demands sheer determination to cross the line. Yes, getting the combination right would pose questions and it is here that the Team Management should be guided by wisdom rather than cold statistics alone. Ringing in changes for the second Test is inevitable but sticking with the chosen team subsequently is also equally important.
- Any cricketer selected to represent Team India has invariably come up through the ranks with talent and potential to excel at the highest level. As such, persisting with youngsters makes logical sense instead of resorting to constant chopping and changing. Opener Prithvi Shaw should be given one more opportunity at the top to prove himself. Likewise, Hanuma Vihari too should be allowed to establish. One bad session should not deprive the talented lot to surrender lock, stock, and barrel. Prove what you are capable of Team India!
