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With two Test matches against Bangladesh followed by a more difficult three-game series against New Zealand, India has the perfect lead-up to their visit of Australia.
India’s top goal will be to win both series and get as many players back into form as possible without suffering serious injuries. But the most important thing is to accomplish those goals with Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah.
After his terrible vehicle accident, Pant’s recovery and return to the Test scene are quite amazing. He is an important wicketkeeper-battler for the Indian team, and if he is playing at his best for the Australian tour, he might be a huge asset to the side.
Pant is an essential batsman, as he demonstrated during the 2020–21 Australian tour by playing significant innings in the SCG and Gabba Tests. His inventive aggression and ability to score quickly are key components of India’s game plan.
Pant is the perfect wicketkeeper for Australian conditions if he can play at the peak of his game. His wicketkeeping is also very important. Standing back is what’s needed in Australia if he can maintain his agile performance. A keeper who can expertly cover a lot of ground on both sides of the wicket is required. A keeper who satisfies those criteria not only enhances the team’s fielding performance but also permits the slip fielders to spread out and cover more ground.
Prior to his severe injury, Pant’s keeping up to the stumps significantly improved as a result of coach Ravi Shastri’s ultimatum. Pant’s commitment to put in a lot of effort was evident in his progression from a doubtful keeper against spinners to a very good gloveman up to the stumps.
As important as the batting has to be at peak performance, the Indian fast bowling will also be critical. India has the luxury of choosing five bowlers every Test due to the presence of all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin, as well as a keeper-batter in the middle order.
Because of this, selecting fast bowlers is crucial. The two most effective speed bowlers on the most recent Australian tour, Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, must be in good condition and be fit. Bumrah leads the attack out of the two.
Making sure Bumrah stays fit and in condition to play most of the five Test matches will be a crucial component of India’s preparation for the Australian visit. Although it would be great if the erratic Mohammed Shami could play for Australia, India’s offensive versatility would also be enhanced by the availability of a strong left-arm pacer.
With Jadeja and Ashwin, the spin bowling is well taken care of. However, I wouldn’t undervalue Kuldeep Yadav’s significance on some Australian fields.
Yashasvi Jaiswal appears to be one of the younger batters with the most potential, but he must perform well in Australia. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ought to serve as mentors for the younger batsmen on the tour.
India’s two recent series victories in Australia demonstrate the need for strong batting in this country. Putting that aside, if both Pant and Bumrah are playing at their peak levels in Australia, it will greatly enhance India’s chances.