Kris Srikkanth, former Indian batsman feels the Australian batting is vulnerable without David Warner at the top of the order. He is one of the experts who are optimistic regarding India’s chances in the four-match Test series against Australia, although they were dismantled on the third day in Adelaide in first pink-ball Test registering their lowest ever Test score of 36.
Kris Srikkanth: India’s Mindset Was Too Defensive And Have To Regroup And Show More Positive Intent
Speaking to The Age and the Herald, Kris Srikkanth said he thinks India will come out all guns blazing and fight in the second Test in Melbourne despite being without regular Indian skipper Virat Kohli who is homebound to attend the birth of the child and pacer Mohammed Shami who suffered a fracture in bowling arm during batting in 1st Test.
The 61-year-old remarked, ”The mindset I think was too defensive. They have to regroup. They have to have a bit more positive intent. The best way is just to go for it. But when you miss King Kohli, it’s going to make it difficult, let’s be honest. And Shami [as well]. But I’m sure they’ll come out and fight.”
“Everybody [in India] is disappointed, but then everyone has taken the view [to look at it] as a bad dream.”Srikkanth feels India can exploit Australia’s vulnerable batting line-up
India were in with a solid chance going into the third day of the first Test, as they led by 62 runs with nine wickets in hand. Several experts felt the visitors were in the driver’s seat at that point but they were proved wrong.
However, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood’s fiery spells in India’s 2nd innings turned the game on its head, allowing Australia to eventually win by a comfortable eight wickets to go 1-0 up in 4 match Test series.
Kris Srikkanth: Australian Batting Is Not Very Strong Without David Warner
Australian opening dashing batsman David Warner had suffered a groin injury in the second ODI match of limited-overs series against India, which made him miss the first Test in Adelaide besides three T20Is and third ODI.
David Warner has been ruled out of the Boxing Day Test as well after failing to recover from an injury. Kris Srikkanth believes that the Australian team is vulnerable without the 34-year-old opening the innings.
”Let’s not forget, the Aussies’ batting is not great. My belief is the Aussies’ batting is 30 per cent Warner, 30 per cent Smith, all others put together is 30 per cent. But the bowling is very good. The Australian batting is not very strong,” Kris Srikkanth added.
As Kris Srikkanth said, India needs to look at the third day as a bad dream and try their best to make a comeback in the Melbourne Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India may bring in as many as 5 changes handing debuts to Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj. KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant are also expected to stage a comeback in Test fold after a gap.