India’s upcoming tour of Australia, set for later this year, is poised to be a high-stakes challenge as they embark on a five-Test series with the goal of achieving a historic hat-trick of series victories Down Under. The Indian team has already made history twice: under Virat Kohli’s leadership in 2020/21, India became the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia. They followed this up with another notable victory in 2022, despite a squad plagued by injuries.
This series will see Rohit Sharma at the helm as captain, stepping into a formidable challenge. Australian cricket legends, including Ricky Ponting, have suggested that replicating past successes will be difficult for India, predicting that this series will be their toughest yet. The Indian team will need to overcome significant hurdles to maintain their dominance in Australian conditions.
A key figure in India’s previous success against Australia was Rishabh Pant, the wicketkeeper-batter who played a pivotal role in the 2-1 series win. Pant, who has returned to cricket this year and participated in both white-ball formats, is preparing for the Test series by featuring in the Duleep Trophy. This preparation is crucial as India’s home season kicks off with a two-Test series against Bangladesh later this month.
Pant has been aware of the comments from former Australian cricketers regarding the upcoming series and has been asked about the pressure of living up to his past performances. As he gears up for this important tour, Pant’s experience and form will be crucial for India’s success in their quest to secure another series victory in Australia.
“I feel the pressure is always there because you can’t take any match lightly in international cricket,” Pant stated.
“The margins are pretty small at this level. There isn’t much gap between teams. You can only give your 100 per cent and take the result on your chin. That is the thought process that I believe in,” he further stated.
Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 89 in the final innings of the Gabba Test was a historic performance, leading India to a dramatic three-wicket victory. This remarkable innings not only secured India’s series win but also handed Australia their first Test defeat at the Gabba since 1989. Pant’s crucial knock played a pivotal role in this memorable achievement, cementing his place in cricketing history and highlighting the significance of the victory for Indian cricket.
Pant on the home season
India is set for a busy cricketing schedule over the next five months, with a total of 10 Test matches lined up. The series against Bangladesh will be followed by three Tests against New Zealand at home in October-November. After that, India will travel to Australia to compete in the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy, making for an intense and action-packed period of Test cricket.
“Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka perform well in Asian conditions because they are accustomed to the wickets,” Pant stated.
“As the Indian cricket team, we focus solely on our own standards and how we can improve. Regardless of the opposition, we strive to play with the same intensity and give our 100 percent every single day,” he stated.
“It is very important for us to play domestic cricket because as a cricketer, match practice is always very important,” he stated.
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