"I'm 100% sure India will beat Australia in Australia. The pressure is on Pat Cummins, not Rohit Sharma" - Chetan Sharma on 2024-25 BGT
Former Indian pacer and chief selector Chetan Sharma expressed confidence in the Men in Blue defeating Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under. Team India will play Australia in a highly-anticipated five-match series, starting in Perth on November 22.
While Australia haven't played red-ball cricket since March this year, India are coming off a 0-3 home series whitewash to New Zealand. However, the Asian giants have held the upper hand over the Aussies in the long format, winning the previous four bilateral series between the sides.
Furthermore, India have defeated Australia in the last two Test series Down Under in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
Chetan Sharma felt the recent Test results between the two rivals will ensure Australia are under more pressure than India.
"I am 100 percent sure India will beat Australia in Australia. Under Rohit's captaincy, we will make it a hat trick in Australia. India will defeat Australia on their own turf once again. We have already defeated Australia twice in their own backyard. They must be worried, not us. Pressure is on Australia, not India. The pressure is on Pat Cummins, not Rohit Sharma," he told TOI.
"We have always enjoyed when India tour Australia, South Africa or England. The best part is that we now enter as series-winning contenders whenever we tour overseas.When their players are saying this will be a good series, understand how much nervousness they must be feeling inside," Chetan Sharma added.
Australia's lone home Test series thus far this year saw them settle for a 1-1 draw against the lowly West Indies.
Yet, Pat Cummins' Men have not tasted defeat in a home Test series since the 2020-21 affair against India.
"Let's honor and respect what Rohit and Virat have done for the country" - Chetan Sharma
Chetan Sharma rubbished Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's recent poor run with the bat in Tests and backed the legendary duo to come good in the Australia series.
The duo combined for a dismal 184 runs with only two half-centuries across 12 innings in the New Zealand home series. Kohli and Rohit each averaged under 16 as India suffered the embarrassing 0-3 whitewash at the Kiwis' hands
"Let's honor and respect what Rohit and Virat have done for the country. Players like Rohit and Virat are never out of form. They are never in a lean or bad patch. These words shouldn't be used for them. We are thankful to them. They are still doing it. We always talk about them and focus on them and want them to shine every time because they are superstars. Just wait and watch what Rohit and Virat do in Australia. They will dazzle with their bats," Chetan Sharma said in the same interaction.
India must defeat Australia by an improbable 4-0 margin or better to harbor hopes of qualifying for a third consecutive World Test Championship (WTC) final.