India vs Australia: ‘This is not the last Test of the series, it is the first’ – Harsha Bhogle wary of India’s chances following Adelaide debacle

India‘s majestic batting collapse at Adelaide has stirred a storm in the cricketing fraternity. The visitors lost as many as eight wickets in 92 balls as they slumped for 36, lowest ever total in Test cricket. Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins wreaked havoc on the Indian batting line-up. While Hazlewood bagged a fifer, Cummins picked up four wickets to hand Australia a target of 90 runs.

While experts lashed out at Virat Kohli and Co. for their abysmal, Harsha Bhogle is wary of how the side would fare for the final three Tests. The renowned commentator is curious how the side would deal with the beating they took in the pink-ball Test. Bhogle explains that with as many as three Tests left in the series, it will be crucial how the Indians deal with this deadly blow from the hosts.

“I am starting to wonder if we should look for something for the batsmen from here. Remember this is not the last Test of the series, it is the first. Are they are going to got Melbourne with these wounds and they are going to fester for seven days? Or are they going to blow away those and come out with a fresh mindset? Who is the batsman wo is going to take on the opposition bowling? He is not there, he is going back,” Bhogle said on Cricbuzz Chatter.

Harsha Bhogle worried about ‘talisman’ Jasprit Bumrah

Adding to the woes, Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the remainder of the Test series. Shami sustained a fracture in his arm after being hit on his bolwing arm off a Pat Cummins delivery. Bhogle feels that Shami’s absence will leave Jasprit Bumrah toiling away on a flat Melbourne pitch. Although Shami went wicket less in the first Test, his disciplined bowling meant the hosts were under consistent pressure.

“In the absence of Kohli, your talisman cricketer now is Bumrah in that side. And if you are going to play Bumrah, Yadav and Saini or Siraj, on what is now a flat, slow, low deck in Melbourne. Are you going to bowl Bumrah into the dust? So Shami’s issue is a big one for the visitors here.“

It will be interesting to see how India bounces back in absence of two of their premier players after such a huge setback. The loss in Adelaide was India’s third straight loss in Test matches under three days.

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