Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Batting will decide series: Zaheer

- Devarchit Varma devarchit.varma@htlive.com

SHARJAH: The experience is there (in bowling attack). It is just about executing the plans and it is important the fitness levels are maintained. ZAHEER KHAN, former India pacer

Former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan feels the outcome of the upcoming Test series between India and Australia would depend on how the batsmen from both sides perform. The first Test begins at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

While India, under Virat Kohli, have been at the top of the rankings, Australia are going through a torrid time after losing two of their best batsmen in Steven Smith and David Warner due to the ball tampering scandal.

“I think if you look at both the (bowling) attacks they are looking pretty much balanced in many ways. The contest is really going to be how the batting for both the team shapes up,” said Zaheer on the sidelines of the T10 League in Sharjah.

For India, who are fancying their first-ever series win in Australia this time, Kohli has been the top performer in both their overseas tours earlier this year with the bat, but has found very little support from the others, leading to India’s defeat.

Zaheer backed the Indian fast bowlers to continue giving their best, having put up impressive performanc­es in both South Africa and England. “We (India) have five bowlers in Australia right now who have been there, (also) those who have been playing for India for a while,” added Zaheer, who has been captaining the Bengal Tigers side that lost the race to the tournament’s final on Saturday.

“The experience is there (in the bowling attack), the understand­ing is there. It is just about executing those plans and it is important that the fitness levels are maintained (through the course of) the series,” Zaheer expressed.

The former pace spearhead backed India to learn their lessons from previous defeats and come good in Australia. “Absolutely, this is a great chance for the Indian team to win the series Down Under,” Zaheer said.

 ?? GETTY ?? Not just Virat Kohli, India need the other batsmen to fire too.
GETTY Not just Virat Kohli, India need the other batsmen to fire too.

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