Ravi Shastri, the former head coach of India, has expressed that Australia's fragile batting line-up gives India an advantage heading into the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday.
With the ongoing five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series tied at 1-1, Shastri believes that India's position is stronger as the series progresses.
In his comments, Shastri highlighted the vulnerability of the Australian top order, which he described as "brittle" — a rare sight in Australian cricket. He believes India has successfully exploited these weaknesses so far and will continue to do so.
Shastri is confident that India will take control of the game, especially with the series being level at 1-1, and with crucial matches yet to be played in Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane. For Shastri, heading into the Boxing Day Test with the series tied is the best possible scenario, and he firmly believes India has the upper hand.
Shastri also discussed the inclusion of Sam Konstas, who is set to make his Test debut at the MCG, following the drop of Nathan McSweeney due to a poor run in the first three matches.
While acknowledging Konstas's flair and potential, Shastri pointed out that the real challenge for the young Australian batsman would be facing India’s leading wicket-taker, Jasprit Bumrah, who has been instrumental in India's position in the series.
Shastri praised Konstas for his "flamboyance" but added that Test cricket would require him to refine his technique over time. Despite McSweeney’s unfortunate exclusion, Shastri believes the move to bring in Konstas is a smart one, as Australia needs players who can challenge India and take the game to them.
Looking ahead, Shastri remains optimistic about India's chances of securing a third consecutive Test series win in Australia, having already won in 2018/19 and 2020/21. He acknowledged that it would be a significant achievement, as no team has managed to win three consecutive series in Australia for a long time.
However, he cautioned that Australia will be coming hard, especially with their bowlers, and that their batting would continue to be the main issue. Shastri highlighted that India is not just here to compete but to win, and to achieve that, they must plan meticulously and take 20 wickets.
He praised the Indian team’s aggressive approach, noting how they have been in Australia’s face, delivering as much as they’ve received. For Shastri, the outcome of the Boxing Day Test will be pivotal in determining the direction of the series.
He believes the first day of the match will be crucial in deciding which team has the upper hand.
In the closing remarks, Shastri looked to the future of Indian cricket. With Ravichandran Ashwin’s abrupt international retirement, Shastri expects to see new faces in India’s batting department in the coming years.
He mentioned promising young players like Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant, noting that the Indian team has a strong pipeline of talent ready to take the reins in the near future.
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