Former Australia skipper Kim Hughes has said the current Indian team is a balanced and stronger unit than the country had in the past. He expressed Virat Kohli’s side is doing well in the current scenario, which would be challenging for the Australian side led by Steven Smith, when they come to the country for the four-Test series, which begins from February 23 in Pune.
“I haven’t seen a stronger Indian team than this one. I watched the India vs England series on TV and I think Virat Kohli did an inspirational job as captain and his batting was absolutely sublime,” Hughes was quoted as saying by mid-day.
The 62-year-old former batsman Hughes led Australia in six-Test tour in 1979-80 in India, where he scored a hundred in the very first Test at Chennai which eventually turned out to be a drawn game.
Hughes lavished praise on Indian battling line-up while stating the hosts have top-quality spin duo (Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja) at helm who possess the ability to rattle any strong opposition in the home conditions.
“India have a very balanced team. They have the best batting side in the world; they’ve got depth in pace and spin bowling and R Ashwin is in a different league altogether. His ability is breathtaking and Ravindra Jadeja does a great job in keeping it tight. Plus, they are a good fielding unit,” Hughes added.
Hughes, who looked worried for the left-handers, urged his national team to prepare well before the real challenge arrives.
“You can bat in the nets, but that’s not the same as playing a side game and the tour could be over even before it’s begun. We have six to seven left-handers and that will create an issue with Ashwin coming around the wicket and bowling into the rough,” he said.
However, Hughes is hopeful that young leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson will perform well in away conditions.
“Swepson turns it, but he’s not going to get too many games. The Indians play spin very well and they’ll get after Glenn Maxwell and Nathan Lyon,” Hughes said.
Hughes, who made a century on his Western Australia debut debut – played three Tests series in 1977-78, 1980-81 against India in Australia.
“You are on a hiding to nothing and could lose all four Tests if you don’t get off to a good start,” Hughes concluded saying on Australia’s tour to India which he thinks would be toughing outing but eventually a learning curve for the youngsters.
Making his debut against England in 1977 at Oval, Hughes appeared in 70 Tests for Australia, in which he amassed 4,415 at an average of 37.41, which included nine centuries and 22 fifties.