Regardless of the format, Australia and India have long-standing rivalry. Every series, but particularly the red-ball ones, has always been accompanied with gripping backstories and forecasts from past legends well in advance of the series’ launch.
The next home Test matches between Bangladesh and New Zealand, according to former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, will prepare India well for the tour of Australia. He also discussed the psychological strategies that have already started in regard to the much awaited series.
“India’s five Test matches (at home) prior to their tour of Australia will be beneficial for the mental preparation needed for such a demanding trip. Australian athletes, both past and present, have already started to speculate about the outcome of the match, according to Gavaskar’s Mid-Day column.
Adding to the mental games he was playing, Gavaskar suggested that R Ashwin should make a hint about a specific delivery he was working on for Steve Smith.
“If he can continue to open the batting and survive Jasprit Bumrah, maybe Ravichandran Ashwin should start telling us about a special delivery that he is developing for Steve Smith,” wrote Gavaskar.
Sunil Gavaskar is dissatisfied with the Indian fraternity’s absence of McGrath-like comments.
The former opening batsman also voiced his displeasure at the lack of verbal repartee between himself and his partner, Ravi Shastri, and the Australians.
“Australia is still indicating that they will win, even though they are not making declarations of a clean sweep a la Glenn McGrath. Unfortunately, except from Ravi Shastri, no other player, past or present, has shown to be able to stop the Australians’ mastery of mind tricks, said Gavaskar.
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It’s interesting to note that less than a month ago, Shastri made the audacious prediction that Australia would lose the next three series at home, having lost the previous two in 2017–18 and 2020–21.
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