“Few ageing players may start to even second guess themselves” – Adam Gilchrist on India losing 0-3 to New Zealand ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Former Australia captain Adam Gilchrist believes India’s Test series whitewash against New Zealand could have a dampening effect on the senior players ahead of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The erstwhile wicketkeeper-batter is keen to witness how Rohit Sharma and company bounce back from the loss.
Notably, big guns like Virat Kohli and Rohit failed to deliver in the three-match Test series. The duo managed just 93 and 91 in six innings, respectively. The two players have managed just one fifty in the last five Tests, an area of concern ahead of the five-match Test series in Australia. Apart from batters, senior all-rounders Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja also failed to deliver with the bat.
Gilchrist told Fox Sports (via the Times of India):
"I think that will raise some questions internally and the pressure, the expectation and the desire from a passionate cricketing nation to see that change around, that’ll ride heavily on those shoulders of all those players.
"There are a few ageing players there who may start to even second guess themselves a little bit. There’s some high-class cricketers in that Indian squad. It’s going to be fascinating to see how they rebound from that challenge."
He added:
"It does (have an impact), more for the Indian players and the Indian team internally. They have to be asking themselves pretty hard questions.
"I'm not expecting them to come out and be easy beats, but I do think on the back of that loss and the fact that it was a clean sweep — I cannot remember when that’s happened to them, just losing a series, let alone a clean sweep."
Adam Gilchrist has played 96 Tests for Australia. In Ricky Ponting's absence, he led his side to a 2-1 series win in India during the 2004/05 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“That is the key” – Kerry O’Keefe stresses importance of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for India in Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia
Former Australia spinner Kerry O’Keefe also shed light on the importance of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He said in the same interaction:
"They have trump cards still, India. That’s why they’re dangerous. (Jasprit) Bumrah and (Rishabh) Pant are absolute trumps. Shubman Gill will develop into outstanding number three. They have the spin if it turns in (Ravindra) Jadeja and (Ravi) Ashwin."
"But their champions are in the twilight and they’re coming for one more tilt at us, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. That is the key. They are so good, and have been so good, but you don’t want to come to Australia in the twilight. It’s a tough place," he added.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will kick start in Perth on November 22.