NEWS
Follow UsFormer Australia captain Ian Chappell said Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah’s form and fitness will most probably decide India’s fate when they travel Down Under later this year. The Men in Blue have won the last four Border-Gavaskar Trophy, including two in Australia (2018-19 and 2020-21). Bumrah and Pant played a major role in those two series wins.
Pant, who played that famous knock in the series-decider at Gabba in 2021, didn’t play Test cricket for almost two years after being involved in an unfortunate road accident in December 2022. The wicketkeeper-batter made his return to red-ball cricket in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai and smashed his sixth Test hundred in India’s second innings.
“Pant's ability to bounce back onto the Test scene is quite remarkable given his horrific car accident. He is a crucial wicketkeeper-batter in the Indian line-up and he'd give the team a major boost if he's at the peak of his powers for the Australian tour,” Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.
“As an in-form batter, Pant is vital, which he displayed on the 2020-21 Australian tour with crucial innings in both the SCG and Gabba Tests. His ability to score quickly utilising his innovative aggression is an important part of India's strategy.”
Talking about Pant’s wicketkeeping, Chappell added: “His wicketkeeping is also vital - if Pant can perform at his best, he's the ideal keeper for Australian conditions. If he's able to continue with his agile performance standing back, that is what is required in Australia.
“You need a keeper who capably covers a lot of territory to both sides of the wicket. Any keeper who fulfils those requirements not only improves the team's fielding but also allows the slip fielders to spread wider to cover extra territory.
“Pant's keeping standing up to the stumps drastically improved before his serious injury, following an ultimatum from coach Ravi Shastri. The fact that Pant progressed from being a dubious keeper against spinners to a very good gloveman standing up to the stumps, admirably displayed his willingness to work hard.”
Bumrah’s fitness is also going to be key for India. The ace paceman has played seven Tests in Australia and picked up 32 wickets at an impressive average of 21.3 and a strike rate of 51.5. Bumrah featured in the first Test against Bangladesh and picked up five wickets. India are scheduled to play four more Tests before travelling to Australia and the Indian management will closely be managing his workload.
“That makes the choice of fast bowlers paramount. The good form and fitness of both Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj - the two most successful pace bowlers on the last Australian tour - is essential. Of those two, Bumrah is the attack leader. A critical part of India's build-up to the Australian tour will be ensuring Bumrah is in form but remains fit to play the bulk of the five Tests,” wrote Chappell.
Chappell is also hoping Mohammed Shami recovers before the Australia tour. The pacer has not played competitive cricket since the ODI World Cup final in 2023 but is very close to returning to full fitness. There’s a possibility of Shami featuring in the New Zealand series. If that doesn’t happen, Shami said he will play a couple of domestic games before heading to Australia for the five-match series, starting on November 22 in Perth.
“It would be ideal if the mercurial Mohammed Shami is fit for Australia but the presence of a good left-arm paceman would also improve India's variety in attack. The spin bowling is in good hands with Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin. Nevertheless, I wouldn't discount the importance of Kuldeep Yadav on some Australian surfaces,” added Chappell.
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