Team India must force a win against the Aussies in the Indore Test in BGT Series and aim to qualify for the ICC WTC finals

As cricket's caravan criss-crosses, from Nagpur to New Delhi and, now, Indore, India have been on the ascendant. So emphatic has been the Indian dominance, they are not going to take their foot off the pedal.

Team India must force a win against the Aussies in the Indore Test in BGT Series and aim to qualify for the ICC WTC finals

IND vs AUS

Team India have ensured the Border Gavaskar Trophy will stay with them. The next goal is to ensure they qualify for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final to be held in June in England. What better way than rout the troubled Aussies in the third Test, beginning in Indore on Wednesday.

As cricket’s caravan criss-crosses, from Nagpur to New Delhi and, now, Indore, India have been on the ascendant. So emphatic has been the Indian dominance, they are not going to take their foot off the pedal. Maintaining pressure, like a choke-chain, has been the key to India’s dominance in a series where the Aussie have been riled and ridiculed by their own former greats. From former captains and legends to an era dating back to the Chappells’ to more contemporary cricketers from Down Under, they are aghast at the way the Baggy Green Caps have capitulated.

To say that the Aussies will need a remarkable turn-around is a bit lit asking the ICU doctor if the patient can be weaned off the ventilator. Captain Pat Cummins has flown back, and so has David Warner. Reasons for their flights back home are mixed, one personal and the other injury. What has been appalling is the Aussies, of sledge and playing tricks fame, have shown no character.

Will winds of change blow in Indore, a city which is hosting just its third Test match? That Indore got the nod ahead of Dharmashala and a few more regular Test centres has generated a debate. However, there is no doubting the ability of Indore to host a Test. Such has been India’s dominance, the question is whether the match will last at least four days. Till now, both the Test have ended within three days, which is a shame. Just imagine, a city like New Delhi showed up for the Test on Sunday, Day Three, and could not get full quota. The Aussies were blown away by Ravindra Jadeja.

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The big goal for India is to qualify for the ICC WTC final

The big goal for India is to qualify for the ICC WTC final
IND vs AUS

This series has been all about Jadeja, partner R.Ashwin and the emergence of Axar Patel as a genuine all-rounder. In fact, these three men have been most productive in a series where Jadeja and Ashwin have been nagging in accuracy and choking the Aussie batters. No narration is complete without a mention of the role played by new Test wicket-keeper KS Bharat, who came in for injured Rishabh Pant. Bharat has slipped into the role just as comfortably as he pulls on the keeping gloves. For that matter, his cameo in the second innings was also sweet in New Delhi.

At the press conference on Monday, Bharat spoke of how India have planned to take the DRS — Decision Review System — calls. At one point of time, the BCCI, under N.Srinivasan, was dead against the DRS. It is the same DRS which has been helpful to the Indians in this series, where, now. skipper Rohit Sharma, keeper Bharat and the bowler take the call after a quick convergence meeting.

The Aussies are bruised and battered. Warner flew back after he got injured and the rest of the batters have shown no skills. The pre-mediated sweep shot employed in the Delhi Test has earned the Aussies tons of criticism. It showed, they were not playing the ball on merit, but planned it in their head. Given the nagging accuracy of the Indian spinners, sharp catching in the close-in region and how the pressure has been kept on the Aussies, their batters came croppers. The moot point is whether the return of pacer Mitchell Starc, still not a 100 per cent fit, will help the cause of the Aussies.

To think the Indians have done well in all departments will be wrong. The biggest worry is how the team’s think-tank — Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid — have been supporting KL Rahul. And this, at a time, when Shubman Gill has been cooling his heels. It is clear now, selectors only decide the squad. The final 11 chosen is by the skipper. To persist with KL Rahul will be cruel, though the man has recently sought Divine Intervention by visiting a well-known temple recently! There is no harm in having faith in God but cricket fans have lost faith in the batting of KL Rahul.

For some, mostly Aussie media, the pitch debate continues. One reads of how the Indore pitch will be a mix of red and black soil. From an Indian perspective, what matters is the spinners will want to bowl tight and ensure they choke the Aussies. The big goal is to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship final. In 2021, India did make the final but flopped against New Zealand. Over to Indore. For those wondering if Test cricket is still interesting, follow the series between England and New Zealand. It has been gripping, in every sense.

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