After a well-deserved rest on Monday, India’s cricketers returned to training on Tuesday morning, eager to move past their pink-ball loss. The batters worked through long sessions with throwdowns, pace, and spin, preparing for Brisbane.
In today’s world of shorter series, a long contest stretching over seven weeks can be exhausting. It’s been years since India played a five-Test series in Australia—back in 1991-92.
A Look Back at 1991-92
That series marked Sachin Tendulkar’s rise, despite India losing 4-0. His 114 at WACA remains one of his finest innings. The series also featured the twilight of Dilip Vengsarkar, the resilience of Ravi Shastri, and Javagal Srinath’s debut. On the other hand, Shane Warne made his debut but had little impact. Despite their efforts, India couldn’t stop Australia’s dominance.
Though that tour was tough, it showed the team’s spirit. Now, India stands on more equal footing. After two Tests in the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the series is tied at 1-1, indicating a close contest. In recent years, India has made significant progress, particularly during the 2018-19 and 2020-21 triumphs in Australia.
A New Challenge in Brisbane
India’s loss at Adelaide Oval could motivate Rohit Sharma’s team to fight back in Brisbane. With the series tied, the third Test is crucial. On Tuesday, India returned to training, which would have been the final day of the second Test if not for their batting collapse.
Batters like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, K.L. Rahul, Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Washington Sundar spent time working on their batting against a mix of throwdowns, pace, and spin. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj worked on fitness in the gym, while the other bowlers practiced their craft. The red ball replaced the pink ball, marking a fresh start for the team.
Rohit’s Optimism and Teamwork
“We have no scars from the loss,” said Rohit, focusing on Brisbane and the upcoming challenge. The team worked on defensive techniques and added some attacking shots. Jaiswal was aggressive but got stranded while charging at R. Ashwin, causing some light-hearted moments.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli chatted with coach Gautam Gambhir, while Ajit Agarkar (chief selector) and Morne Morkel (bowling coach) shared their thoughts. After a productive session, the players took some time to relax.
The Road Ahead
Managing their workload is essential during such a long tour. India has improved since the 1991-92 series. The next few weeks will show how much they’ve grown, and the Brisbane Test will be an important test.
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