OPENING GAMBIT
Rohit and India ready to change Sydney script
Sydney, Jan. 6: Having touched nadir and zenith in a span of 10 days, Ajinkya Rahane’s India will look to start afresh against Australia with the big-hitting Rohit Sharma’s presence adding a new dimension to what promises to be an enthralling third Test starting here on Thursday.
The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), despite being witness to some extraordinary batting performances from the touring Indian sides over the years, has not exactly been a happy hunting ground with six defeats. The lone win came a good
42 years back.
If Rahane’s side can go 2
1 up and ensure the retention of the BorderGavaskar Trophy, it will be one of the finest hours in the history of Indian cricket. Making it even more special is the fact that the side has been without two world class performers and a senior pacer against a nearly full-strength Australian team.
Seldom has an Australian batting unit, that boasts of a player of Steve Smith’s calibre, looked so circumspect and literally intimidated by an Indian bowling unit, which isn’t operating at full-strength.
Pacer Navdeep Saini will make his debut here, replacing Umesh Yadav who went home following an injury.
The pressure is understandable as Australia are literally pushing a 70 per cent fit David Warner out there in the middle to combat fire with fire even as his statements make it clear that he is not at all comfortable with the idea.
And in this backdrop, enters Rohit Sharma, whose last couple of months have been loads of off-field drama.
But, his mere presence has added spring in the strides of the team and the youngsters in this current set-up swear by him.
On the other hand, Australia need Smith to be back in form and someone like Travis Head to deliver as he has failed to get a hang of both pace and spin. —