Anil Kumble, who is the third-highest wicket-taker overall in Tests, reckons India will need to embrace the challenge of the pink-ball Test match which will start the four-match Border-Gavaskar Test series in Australia.
If India does well in the series opener at the Adelaide, the former leg-spinner feels the team will be able to repeat their heroics of two years ago where they registered their maiden test series victory in Australia by a margin of 2-1.
Anil Kumble: Biggest Challenge Is India Starting Test Series With Pink Ball Tests
Anil Kumble who has 619 Test wickets in 132 Tests, says that the absence of Virat Kohli is going to leave a huge void in India’s batting. Still, the tourists need to cope with another challenge against Australia in the upcoming test series.
“Since India is starting the Test series with a pink ball, that’ll be the biggest challenge. If we can stay ahead in the first Test match then India has a great chance to repeat what they did in the last Australia tour,” Anil Kumble was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo during a webinar organised by L&T Financial Services Mutual Fund’s annual conclave The Winner’s Circle.
“Although with [Steven] Smith and [David] Warner coming back [after their ball-tampering bans the last time] and then Virat [Kohli] missing the three Test matches will obviously be a big factor for India. But having said that, there’s enough ability within the team, be it batting or bowling.”
Australia have won against likes of New Zealand, South Africa, England and Pakistan in day-night Tests at Adelaide. Steve Smith and David Warner are back after serving a one year ban for ball-tampering. They missed the previous test series at Australia against India in 2018-19 where the tourists registered their maiden test series victory. India won 4 match test series in 2018-19 after Cheteshwar Pujara scored 521 runs and Jasprit Bumrah picked 21 scalps.
Anil Kumble: Australia Have Done Well In Adelaide In Pink Ball Test Matches
Australia are unbeaten in Day/Night Tests by winning all seven of their matches since first participating first in a Pink ball Test back in November-December of 2015 against New Zealand.
“The bowling – we probably match our fast bowling to their fast bowling. The batting again matches, [but] I think we are ahead [of Australia],” Anil Kumble said.
“So if we can get ahead in the pink-ball Test match – which obviously is Australia’s strength: they’ve done really well in Adelaide whenever they have played a pink-ball Test; so if India can sort of get ahead against Australia in the first Test, then I will back India. But if that doesn’t [happen], then it is going to be a tough ask without Virat as well in the next three [Tests].”
Anil Kumble says India’s pacers having likes of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah are on a par with Australia’s quicks. Still, the batsmen have to do a good job, especially with the pink ball if India have a chance to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as Virat Kohli will not participate in the last three Tests.