India vs Australia: ‘This freak occurrence should not define these players’ – VVS Laxman on India’s historic batting collapse in Adelaide

India vs Australia: ‘This freak occurrence should not define these players’ – VVS Laxman on India’s historic batting collapse in Adelaide

VVS Laxman and India Test Team

VVS Laxman and India Test Team
VVS Laxman and India Test Team

It was a historic moment for India as they played their first-ever overseas day-night Test. And it was smooth sailing for the visitors in the first two days. Having put up a respectable score of 244 batting first, India bowled exceptionally well to restrict Australia under 200. but everything went sideways thereafter. Taking to the field on the third day with a healthy 60 odd runs, Virat Kohli and Co. folded for just 36 runs. In the span of 92 balls, India lost eight wickets as they registered their lowest ever total in Test cricket.

This historic batting collapse garnered harsh criticism for the touring party. But amid the chaos, former India batsman VVS Laxman feels that the team needs a break as he went on to label the batting collapse ‘surreal.’

“What can I say that hasn’t been said of India’s meltdown in Adelaide? Watching the wickets tumble was surreal, each dismissal an action replay of the previous one. But we must not forget that as disappointing as it is for us to watch what unfolded, the players and the entire squad must be hurting badly,” Laxman wrote in his column for The Times of India.

A crazy 70-minute passage decimated the good work

Virat Kohli and Tim Paine
Virat Kohli and Tim Paine

Laxman feels that this one-off ‘freak occurrence’ should not be used as a yardstick to define the side. The Indian Test side has brought many laurels to the country in the longest format. The former Test specialist pointed out that it is important to remember how they toiled to get ahead of the opposition in the first two days of the encounter. But it is equally important to learn from the ‘crazy 70-minute passage’ which led to this disastrous result.

“This freak occurrence should not define these players, who have played and performed enough times in all parts of the world. I am not saying dismiss what happened, but it’s imperative to put it in perspective. India had scrapped for six sessions to get their noses in front, only for a crazy 70-minute passage to undo the good work,” the former Test specialist wrote.

Prior to this tour, India was one of the leading sides when it comes to fielding standards. But this tour so far has seen numerous catches go down across formats. Laxman is disappointed with how the team performed in the field in the pink-ball Test. And the fact that it could all be avoided by sincere practice. India dropped as many as five catches in the Test series opener and many more in the limited over series.

“Worse still, five catches were put down, which is a definite no-no, especially against a team of Australia’s caliber. India’s catching form has been very poor from the start of the tour. The lack of improvement is disappointing because this is a skill that can be honed through sustained practice,” said Laxman

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