"Don't listen much" - Kapil Dev's message to Team India ahead of 2024-25 BGT following 0-3 drubbing by New Zealand
Former World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has asked India players to not pay heed to criticism ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Dev has asked the players to focus on the basics since whichever team players will deliver, will emerge victorious Down Under. He reckons that unnecessary details would bring pressure on the players, which could hamper their natural game.
Dev's reaction came after India lost to New Zealand by 0-3 in the recently concluded Test series at home. The upcoming Test series will decide India’s fate for a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Kapil Dev told reporters (via The Times of India):
"I just want to wish my team all the luck. Don't listen much, go and express yourself. Thise who will play well win win. There is no need to take excess pressure."
The first of the five-match Test series will begin at WACA, Perth, on November 22. India won the previous two Test series Down Under by identical 2-1 margins in 2017/18 and 2020/21.
Jasprit Bumrah likely to lead India in Perth Test
Vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah is the favorite to lead India in the first Test as regular captain Rohit Sharma might miss the opener due to paternity leave. The latter recently became father to a baby boy, second child of Rohit & his wife Ritika Sajdeh. They have a daughter named Samaira, born in 2018.
As per reports, Shubman Gill is doubtful for the opener after sustaining a finger-injury during intra-squad practice session. He didn't take the field on Day 2 due to the same reason.
India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Washington Sundar.Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed.
Schedule:
November 22-26: 1st Test at Perth Stadium
December 6-10: 2nd Test at Adelaide Oval
December 14-18: 3rd Test at The Gabba in Brisbane
December 26-30: 4th or Boxing Day Test at MCG in Melbourne
January 3-7: 5th Test at SCG in Sydney