The recent clean sweep faced by India in the hands of New Zealand at their home has made Rohit Sharma’s leading side’s chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final very bleak. The team is also set to play Australia in a five-match Test series starting later this month and therefore for Rohit and his men, there is a need to win at least four games hoping for no other results to help them qualify for the WTC final. However, as it stands, even former India all-rounder Ajay Jadeja has thrown his weight behind the side to conquer Australia on their turf yet again.
Jadeja also termed the series loss to New Zealand as a ‘wake up call’ but counter argued that the current players in the side have ample of experience of playing and winning Down Under.
“Sometimes you need a wake up call. We won the (T20) World Cup this year, we are the best team with a good captain but all of a sudden Rohit Sharma is being questioned for his mobility. I sympathize with him. We may not achieve the World Test Championship final, but I have faith that we will be able to win the series. Our team has much more experience from tour after tour of Australia compared to those days when players would go on tour once every eight years. This is a period of time when nothing can be lost and thus, we’ll be an extremely formidable unit.” Ajay Jadeja remarked during an event in Rajasthan.
Jadeja advised that star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will have a big part to play if the team is to come out successful in the series and regards him as one of the finest players in India.
“Unless he’s (Pant) playing, frankly, he’ll be among the best in India. The issue is how to avoid curbing his flair. Such players are dimmed when they are harnessed. It is a catch-22 situation. At that time, it is not just the body that one needs to condition, but the mind as well. Bumrah is one such case; the one who was asked to modify his bowling action as a teenager but wouldn’t change because he wanted to stay true to himself, excelled. That fortitude, along with mental fortitude, is spectacular, added Jadeja.
