Opinion
This wasn’t written in the script. Or at least, India refused to follow it.
They were expected to crumble after the debacle Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins inflicted on Day 3 in Adelaide. Instead, the Ajinkya Rahane-led side dominated Australia at Melbourne before Cheteshwar Pujara and the Indian middle-order pulled off a draw in Sydney.
But is there enough gas left in the tank for India to pull off a Herculean effort at the Queensland ground dubbed the Gabbatoir?
Last time they met at the Gabba: December 2014
After the thriller in Adelaide, Australia headed to the second Test high on confidence while India searched to level the series at the Gabba. Batting first, India posted 408 courtesy of a quality 144 from Murali Vijay. India looked to be on top early on Day 3 as the Australians fell to 6-247. But the overuse of the short ball by the Indians saw the Australian tail wag alongside a Steve Smith (133) ton as Australia posted 505: a lead of 97.
India looked set to post a decent lead at 1-75 before a devastating spell from Mitchell Johnson saw India slump to 4-86 early on Day 4. An injured Shikhar Dhawan fought valiantly with 81 as the Indians were bowled out for 224. Chris Rogers scored a brisk 55 as the Aussies chased down 128 with four wickets to spare.
When Indian journalist Boria Majumdar tweeted that star quick Jasprit Bumrah won’t be risked in the fourth Test due to an abdomen injury, it spelt one thing – all the pressure is on Australia. India will likely be going ahead with a pace trio of Mohammad Siraj (set to play his third Test), Shardul Thakur (set to play his second Test) and Navdeep Saint (set to play his second Test).
There’s practically no experience in this Indian pace attack in terms of Tests played – meanwhile Mitch Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have a combined number of 147 Tests played.
With a lack of experience in India’s pace attack for the decider at the Gabba, it allows the trio to go out and enjoy the occasion and not be under constant pressure to deliver in each spell. If the pacers do well, that’s great. If not, no one expected them to pass with flying colours in Brisbane.
Meanwhile, the eyes will be on the Australian pacers every ball they bowl in an effort to get the Border-Gavaskar trophy back on Australian soil. If India wins the toss and bats, can a tiring attack give one last push in a short turnaround or will they crumble under pressure and leak runs?
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Both sides go into the Test with forced changes due to injury. India will be sweating on the fitness of Ravichandran Ashwin, who bowled and batted with a very sore back during the second innings at Sydney. Losing Jasprit Bumrah is very tough for the Indians, but Shardul Thakur is no mug with bat or ball.
Ever since he made his FC debut in 2012, Thakur has played in three Ranji trophy finals for Mumbai – winning two and losing one. Although Thakur has only bowled ten balls of Test cricket so far, his experience in big games will be crucial for this inexperienced India attack. The fact he has over 200 wickets in FC cricket shows he knows how to bowl with the red cherry.
Australia start this Test as clear favourites, even if they go into the Test with a third opening combination for the series. They’re expected to defeat an Indian side that has been tested in ways no other touring side has had to deal with in the past decade or so. The two sides have faced off against each other in series deciders on Australian and Indian soil, but the way this series has been played has been breathtaking for the spectators and broadcasters.
No matter the result, one hopes the series decides to live up to the hype it’s created.
India’s predicted XI
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Ravi Ashwin (Kuldeep Yadav to play if Ashwin isn’t fit), Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Siraj, Navdeep Saini
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