Every tour teaches some lessons. And when that tour is of Australia, you get lessons as good as MBA level. New players or those making their dream debut, learn how tough and demanding Cricket is at international level. Performance level of the players boost enormously thereafter. The tour also tests and strengthens mental toughness of the players. So what did this tour yield for Indian players? What lessons they learnt? How it would be beneficial to compose a balanced team?
ODI Series; Narrow margin of defeat:
Right from the first ODI, Indian batsmen, especially the top order, displayed audacious batting performance that continued till the last ODI and carried the tempo/momentum in T20 matches too. If we glance at the history of India-Australia Cricket in Australia, this batting performance would probably rank at the top level. As many as six centuries were scored in five matches with a century each in every match. India’s score crossed Three Hundred run-mark on, almost, every occasion mainly due to healthy contribution by Rohit, Virat, Rahane and, in the later phase of the series, Dhawan.
Despite this brilliant show, we lost the series by 1-4. Seems strange but true. In the end, results matter the most. The margin between victory and defeat was very narrow. That narrow margin could be holding the flow of runs for a brief period, taking quick wickets to hinder the momentum, or scoring quick runs in short period. We lacked in these, the prime reason being inability of our bowlers to elevate their performance level at critical juncture. Contrary to it, at every precarious situation, Australia seized the initiative and demonstrated why they are a World Champion side.
Our team management reiterated many times that this tour is a good learning curve for our bowlers. If at all our bowlers want to pick-up the lesson from this tour, that would be to bowl good deliveries when it matters most.
Brilliance in the T20 series:
Moving from ODI to T20. Our batsmen again didn’t show any mercy to Aussie bowlers and played with dominance and authority. Unlike ODI series, our bowlers controlled the mid-period where Australia seemed running away with ease. Spinners’ contribution in this period was significant. Not to forget Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya’s wicket-taking spell. With a fine blend of batting and bowling, we created history of giving Australia a clean sweep. A series to remember, a series to cherish. ‘Euphoric’ is the best adjective to describe it.
