NEW DELHI: The blockbuster Border-Gavaskar Trophy that had a few of the most interesting nerve-wrecking, edge-of-the-seat motion for shut to 1 and a half months got here to an excellent conclusion on Sunday in Sydney.
Within the battle of the 2 giants — India and Australia — the hosts, lastly ended India’s dominance Down Below and secured the collection with a 3-1 score-line, laying fingers on the trophy for the primary time in 10 years.
For India, the defeat within the collection got here after that they had twice crushed Australia in their very own yard on the 2018/19 and 2020/21 excursions.
However what went unsuitable for India this time round?
The choice committee had named a powerful 18-man squad and over the course of the tour, 16 of them went on to play at the least one Check.
To go together with that, Devdutt Padikkal, who was with India A facet earlier than the collection started, too was parachuted and featured within the collection opener in Perth within the absence of standard skipper Rohit Sharma.
But, on the finish, India stared at a 3-1 collection loss.
And the most important motive for India’s downfall within the collection this time round was the horrendous outings by the batters.
There have been solely three events all through the collection when India crossed the 200-run mark.
The group, on events, even compromised on their bowling to spice up their batting with the inclusion of all-rounders, but didn’t go huge with the bat.
Two out-and-out batters — Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sarfaraz Khan — warmed the bench for the entire collection.
However may they’ve made a distinction?
Abhimanyu Easwaran
Within the absence of Rohit Sharma for the primary Check as a result of private causes, opener Abhimanyu Easwaran would have been your best option to exchange the skipper, at the least for the primary Check.
Earlier than the beginning of the collection, Easwaran was with the India A facet Down Below as nicely.
However his outings in opposition to Australia A had been fairly poor which resulted within the Indian administration ignoring him for the BGT.
Within the two A-games, Easwaran had scored 7, 12, Zero and 17 and that resulted in his non-inclusion.
As a matter of reality, Easwaran’s India A teammate Devdutt Padikkal was introduced in and included within the XI that clearly confirmed that the group administration didn’t have a lot religion within the opener.
Sarfaraz Khan
Battling poor type within the earlier collection, middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan in India XI in Australia would have been a really daring name and the group administration determined to go in opposition to that.
Barring the 150 in Bengaluru, Sarfaraz struggled in opposition to the Kiwis, scoring 0, 11, 9, Zero and 1 in India. Then after the primary recreation, within the warm-up vs PM’s XI, he did not get a lot of an opportunity and scored simply 1 run.
With Sarfaraz’ struggles in opposition to short-pitched deliveries identified, the assume tank was of the opinion to not use him within the pace-friendly Australian circumstances.
Nonetheless, with India going by means of a transition section and the middle-order batters below scanner for his or her run rut, a punt on a teen like Sarfaraz may have been taken.
Dhruv Jurel
Dhruv Jurel was the standout batter in one of many India A vs Australia A recreation, the place he scored 80 and 68 and earned a spot within the XI for the collection opener in Perth.
However within the first Check, Jurel, just like the others, struggled and scored 11 and 1.
Jurel was then benched for the remaining 4 matches regardless of Rishabh Pant not performing earlier than the ultimate Check.
With Pant not firing, there have been additionally murmurs that Jurel may return for the ultimate recreation however the administration caught with India’s first selection keeper and Jurel was compelled to remain on the bench.
Tanush Kotian and the reserves
After India veteran R Ashwin bid adieu mid-series following the drawn third Check in Brisbane, in a like-for-like substitute Tanush Kotian joined the group however did not get a recreation within the BGT.
So was the case with the reserves — Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed — who by no means turned part of the squad for the whole BGT.
Regardless of the mounting workload on Jasprit Bumrah and performances not coming from his tempo companions, the group administration didn’t convey within the reserves and caught to the unique squad.
Out of the reserves, the non-inclusion of workhorse Mukesh Kumar was amongst huge speaking factors all through the collection.
