‘Wish lower order showed application’
India assistant coach Sanjay Bangar highlighted the lower order collapse as an area the team can improve in the Test series and said winning the Adelaide Test was now about “crossing the line”.
India lost their last seven wickets for 73 runs, and the last five for 25 runs, as they were bowled out for 307 in the second innings on Sunday with many expecting the visitors to give themselves at least a 350-run cushion to bowl out the opposition and take a 1-0 lead.
Chasing 323, Australia ended Day 4 needing 219 runs more with six wickets in hand. Bangar said the lower order was expected to contribute 25 runs more, which collapsed once Rishabh Pant holed out.
“That’s an area we’re continuously looking to improve. We hope the lower order, especially number 9, 10 and 11, show more application than they did today.”
“When Pant walked in, we were 260-odd. Immediately he released the pressure and gave us those quick 30-35 runs. Once he had put us in that position, we expected with time, with a better approach and calculation, tactically he could’ve done better.
FEARLESS PANT
“But you don’t want to take the fearlessness away from him otherwise. Hitting against the turn and getting those boundaries are high percentage shots. Those are the shots that many courageous players have played.”
When asked if Pant needs to relook at certain aspects of his batting, Bangar replied, “He is a pretty mature player. He is capable of playing both games. He has another aspect to his game and for somebody who is just starting his career, it is an exciting prospect to have.”
PUJARA, RAHANE SHINE
Bangar said it bode well that Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had started this series well. He said they had batted in some difficult conditions in South Africa and England.
“One needs to understand that the margins in those games have been very, very slim. Right from Cape Town to the Oval, the margins of defeat were very small.
“We have put ourselves in those commanding positions. Unfortunately, we couldn’t close those but as a team probably what we feel is we have always been very competitive. Now, it is about crossing the line.”
He added that there had been some tough conditions in previous tours, and the criticism at times can be unreasonable.
“We have been through difficult periods where we have played under difficult conditions. But they started well here. When we arrived here in Adelaide, perception was that it is generally a batting friendly track.”