DTVHINDIDon’t read too much into Rahul’s removal as vice-captain: Rohit – DTVHINDI
Looking into the future: Captain Rohit Sharma says India is a very likely candidate for the WTC final and should prepare with that in mind. | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy Rohit Sharma is looking beyond the ongoing Test series. The India captain said on Tuesday that if India won the Test here to take a winning 3-0 lead in the series, the fourth Test at Ahmedabad could be played on a green, seamer-friendly track to prepare the team for the final of the World Test Championship to be played in England. Looking ahead Rohit said, “There is definitely a possibility of that. We have already spoken about it. We need to get the guys ready for it. The important one is Shardul Thakur, because he comes into the planning for us. If we play Australia in England, it will be a different ball game for both the teams.” Rohit said, “After the last WTC cycle, the way we played in certain conditions has been remarkable. Home conditions too have been challenging.” Rohit said his team needed the break after the two Tests. “Coming back, we feel refreshed.” On the out-of-form K.L. Rahul’s removal as vice-captain, Rohit said, “Players who are going through a tough time, given their potential, will be given enough time to prove themselves. Being vice-captain or otherwise doesn’t tell you anything.” Rohit, who revealed he liked naming the eleven at the toss, was pleased with India’s batting depth that gave a cushion to the side’s top and middle-order. On playing on these pitches, Rohit said, “I played 200 balls in Nagpur and never felt settled. One ball grips or keeps low and you are out. What happened to the Australians [losing wickets in clusters] can happen to us too.” He added, “We cannot take things lightly. We got to keep the discipline going.” Hustling the Aussies Rohit was all praise for R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, even as the Aussies have talked about attempting to slow the game down. “We have hustled them, not given them time to think. Jadeja is so quickly back to his mark that sometimes I too have problems moving a fielder before the next ball is bowled.” Rohit and the Indians have been on the ball.
India will look to drive home the advantage against an Australia plagued by self-doubt – DTVHINDI
Still in the air: Even though the team management is yet to take a call on his inclusion, Gill makes sure he is match-ready. | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy From the broad glass panes of the press box, the sight of Australian cricketers surrounding the pitch for a closer look when the covers were removed briefly, was all too familiar. In this edition of the Border-Gavaskar series, the Australians have been obsessed with the nature of the surface and veered off from their time-tested methods with disastrous consequences. The demon of self-doubt has been Australia’s biggest scourge. With the wily Steve Smith at the helm now, can the visitors turn the corner mentally? Dry pitch The predominantly dry, black-soil pitch with a smattering of red, should encourage spin when the third Test gets underway at the Holkar Stadium here on Wednesday. Leading 2-0 in the four Test series, India will go for the kill. The Indians left the choice of Rohit’s opening partner — either the out-of-form K.L. Rahul or the red hot Shubman Gill — up the air. The in-form Gill should play. Not surprisingly, much focus will be on R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Ashwin’s run-up and release have rhythm, with his hip drive and the manner in which he pivots being major factors. Although a finger spinner, Ashwin employs both his wrist and fingers to create a variety of deliveries. The one that goes through straight and the delivery that hangs in the air and then drifts away combine with deadly effect with his off-spinners. There is flight, deception and venom. On these surfaces, Jadeja’s quicker-through-the-air variety — he uses the crease capably — is potent. Vicious turn and bounce with the arm-ball slipped in between have fetched Jadeja a whopping 17 wickets so far. Ashwin has 14. And, India’s batting depth has provided the runs for the spin duo to attack. Reinforcement: Mitchell Starc’s addition to the team is good news for Australia as left-arm seamers have traditionally troubled Indian batters. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Good news For Australia, Mitchell Starc’s return is good news; left-arm seamers have traditionally troubled India. Starc will also create the rough for off-spinners Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy to exploit. Fit again, pace-bowling all-rounder Cameron Green gives Australia the option of playing an additional bowler or a batter. Whatever be the combination, Australia needs to display resilience. It is the lack of faith in their defensive skills on these pitches that has seen the Aussies going for fatal strokes. Unable to pick the length, their footwork has been impacted adversely. The Australians should explore the possibility of playing a lot more off the back-foot and meeting the ball late to frustrate the Indian spinners. The way to go The batters can crouch a little in their stance and shorten their backlift to counter the low bounce and give themselves a lot more time to negate the turning ball off their back-foot. This will open up more scoring areas too. Playing with soft hands in defence and not going…
