The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is poised at a knife’s edge with Australia and India going into the third game at Sydney, having won one Test apiece in the four-match series. Even as the hosts look to recoup from the Melbourne loss and India feel boosted further by the inclusion of Rohit Sharma, stand-in skipper Ajinkaya Rahane had to fend off more questions on the reported threat by his team to boycott the fourth Test scheduled to be played at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Rahane, while not revealing his teammates’ reservations about the stricter quarantine rules in Brisbane, stated that Team India is aware of the quarantine rules and its challenges and are not complaining. Yet.
“Being in quarantine has its own challenges but as a team we are just focussing on the game (tomorrow). Outside life in Sydney is normal. We know that. It’s a challenge, and we have to face it. We are not complaining or anything. Just want to start well tomorrow,” the skipper said.
When asked about the team’s alleged threat to not proceed to Brisbane, Rahane preferred to show the dead bat and said, “We as players are just focussing on this Test. BCCI will take a decision. We are not at all annoyed. Yes, there are challenges. We know what’s our priority. We are here to play cricket and we just want to do that.”
Meanwhile, coming back to the Sydney Test starting on Thursday, the Indian team has already announced its playing XI with vice-captain Rohit Sharma set to open with Shubman Gill in place of Mayank Aggarwal. India have also opted to add extra pace to its bowling department, picking Navdeep Saini to debut in the Test match in place of the injured Umesh Yadav as the third seamer.
Praising Mohammed Siraj who debuted in the Melbourne Test, which India won by eight wickets, Rahane said, “Umesh is our main quality bowler; [it is] unfortunate he got injured. We will definitely miss him and Mohammed Shami, but that gives opportunity to other guys to do well. Jasprit Bumrah and R. Ashwin are doing really well so far for us, but I am really happy for Siraj; the way he bowled in the last game, the way he stood up after Shami got injured was really exceptional.”
On Rohit’s inclusion, Rahane said the former’s experience will be very valuable. “We are excited to have him back in team, Especially his experience at highest level which matters a lot. He is batting very well in the nets, he had good 7-8 sessions. He started his practice straightway after last Test got over. Last couple of series, he has been batting as opener, so you will see him batting at the top.”
The key to India’s stupendous performance in the second Test after a drubbing in the first was the lines that Indian bowlers bowled to Australian batsmen and the field set for them, making run-scoring really difficult. Australian batsmen have acknowledged that they have not been able to counter India’s bowling tactics well. The hosts have so far not been able to score more than 200 runs in an innings in the series.
Speaking about similar tactics being employed at the SCG, too, Rahane indicated the Aussie batsmen could be in for few more surprises.
“As a team you have 3-4 plans. We have to see which one works on given day, see the wicket as well. It is important to plan well especially when you come here to Australia. You have to take into account the bounce in the wicket, too.”
Praising India’s premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has done extremely well on the current tour Down Under, Rahane said, “Ashwin always looking to learn new things. He has good skills but to learn new things, that’s what matters and makes him great. It feels really good to see him bowl well and hope he continues to do the job well for us.”
He also hailed Ravindra Jadeja and his impressive show with the bat.
“Jaddu is really good with his bat especially in Test cricket. He can contribute with his bowling we all know, but has improved a lot as batsman. When your number seven can contribute with the bat, that’s a huge thing for you.”
Rahane doesn’t want to look too deeply into the past history of Indian team’s performance at the Sydney Cricket Ground, a favourite venue Down Under. Instead, he underlined the fact that tomorrow would be a fresh start for India. The fate of who gets to keep the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be decided at the SCG.
