New Delhi:
The recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series saw India succumb to a 1-3 defeat against Australia, a result that has sparked significant criticism, particularly from former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly’s remarks highlighted the glaring issues in India’s batting performance, which was a crucial factor in their series loss.
India’s victory in the first Test in Perth by a commanding 295 runs under Jasprit Bumrah’s leadership was short-lived, as Australia dominated the subsequent matches. The hosts secured wins in the second Test at Adelaide by 10 wickets, the fourth Test at Melbourne by 184 runs, and the fifth Test at Sydney by six wickets. This series marked India’s first Test series defeat against Australia in a decade.
One of the key statistics that stood out was India’s inability to score more than 200 runs in an innings on more than three occasions throughout the series. This lackluster performance was a major concern, as emphasized by Ganguly. He stressed that scoring merely 170-180 runs is insufficient to win Test matches, underscoring the need for more substantial batting efforts.
Ganguly, who has extensive experience playing in Australia during his 12-year Test career, pointed out that consistent batting is essential for winning Test matches. “We did not bat well; we have to bat well in Test cricket. If you do not bat well, you will not win Test matches. You have to score 350-400,” he stated.
The series also saw Virat Kohli, one of India’s batting stalwarts, struggle significantly. Kohli managed only 190 runs in nine innings, a performance that raised several questions about his form and future in the Indian Test team. His dismissals, often while attempting to play shots on balls bowled outside the off stump line, added to the concerns. Despite this, Ganguly expressed confidence in Kohli’s ability to overcome his current form issues.
As India prepares for their next red-ball series in June, the spotlight will be on Kohli to regain his form and secure his place in the team. The upcoming series will be a critical test for the veteran batsman and the Indian team as a whole, as they seek to rectify the batting woes that cost them the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
