New Delhi: India play Australia in five Tests starting Friday in Perth after their first red-ball series defeat at home in more than a decade exposed the visitors’ growing vulnerabilities. India won 2-1 against Australia on both of their last two Test tours, but suffered a 3-0 whitewash at home to New Zealand last month. Here is a look at five problems India face ahead of the series, which is crucial in deciding the finalists of the World Test Championship.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were both poor with the bat against New Zealand. Skipper and opening batsman Rohit managed just 91 runs in three matches and Kohli only 93, including four single-digit scores across six innings. Coach Gautam Gambhir backed his premier batsmen as “incredibly tough men” ahead of the side’s departure for Australia, and this will be the time to prove it.
Doubters say there are signs of a longer-term decline in the 36-year-old Kohli. For years one of the world’s most feared batsmen, he has managed only two Test centuries in the last five years. As for Rohit, batting great Sunil Gavaskar warned he could struggle in particular against Australian quick Mitchell Starc’s “lengths and lines”.
The 37-year-old Rohit appears set to miss the first Test following the birth of his second child. Rohit’s form has damaged India’s ability to start well in recent times and placed the onus on young opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal to set the tone. Despite his recent struggles Rohit would have open.
