IND vs AUS: Mark Waugh Sees ‘No Hope’ of India Bouncing Back in Test series
The former Aussie batsman Mark Waugh also added that India will struggle to make a comeback in the series and will suffer a 4-0 whitewash in the four-match Test series against Australia.
Former Australia batsman Mark Waugh feels that the Indian cricket team has “no hope” of making a comeback after the humiliation in Adelaide and will suffer a 4-0 whitewash in the four-match Test series against the hosts.
In the build-up to the Test series, it was being consistently said that Kohli and boys will have to beat Australia in the Test series opener in Adelaide to gain momentum in the 4-match series. But things haven’t gone as per planning for team India as they lost the Pink-ball Test by 8 wickets, before getting all out on 36, their lowest-ever Test total.
“I thought Adelaide was the Test that they could win on paper and with Virat Kohli here for just the one Test. I thought the conditions would suit them.
“I just can’t see how they can bounce back (after) Australia whitewashed them on the third day.
“So ‘no’ is the answer four-nil to Australia,” Mark Waugh told on Fox Cricket.
Former wicket-keeper batsman echoed the sentiment of junior Waugh. In the absence of Virat Kohli, from where Team India will get its energy, wonders Haddin. At the same time, the 46-year-old pointed out that Rohit Sharma, who arrived Australia few days ago and is currently in quarantine, can be key for India under the prevailing circumstances.
Notably, Virat Kohli is going to miss the remaining three Tests against Australia as he will fly back to India to be with his wife Anushka Sharma who is going to give birth to their first child in January. Mohammad Shami is out of the series with a broken arm and experienced batsman Rohit Sharma is still serving the mandatory 14-day quarantine period in Australia.
“If they are going to get back into the game, what I want to know is where they’re going to get their energy from,” Haddin said on Fox Cricket.
“Virat Kohli is gone now and a lot of the energy comes off the back of what he does. He’s a world-class player, he’s their leader.
“I would have a look at bringing someone in like Rohit Sharma. If he comes out of quarantine and he’s in good knick and he’s fit enough to play, I’d put him straight in because I think they need a senior player like that to take the anxiety out of everything and just get everyone thinking about cricket again.”
Rohit Sharma is expected to appear in the Sydney Test from January 7. The Boxing Day Test between the two cricketing giants is set to kick start from December 26.
