New Delhi: Indian players need to introspect after underperforming against New Zealand and have to devise a way to rebound in the Australia series, says Adam Gilchrist.
India crashed to a 0-3 whitewash at home in a Test series of at least three matches for the first time and begin their five-match tour of Australia from November 22.
The NZ drubbing dented their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final, with a margin of 4-0 victory needed against Australia to qualify for the title match irrespective of other results.
India have won their last four Test series against Australia – two at home at two Down Under but would need their famed batters to be at their best to make it a hat-trick of wins Down Under.
India skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli struggled against new Zealand and would have to find form quickly in seaming and bouncing Aussie pitches.
“It does (series defeat has an impact), more for the Indian players and the Indian team internally. They have to be asking themselves pretty hard questions,” legendary keeper-batter Gilchrist told Fox Sports.
“But I’m not expecting them to come out and be easy beats, but I do think on the back of that loss and the fact that it was a clean sweep — I cannot remember when that’s happened to them, just losing a series, let alone a clean sweep — I think that will raise some questions internally.
“The pressure and the expectation and the desire from a passionate cricketing nation to see that change around, that’ll ride heavily on those shoulders of all those players.”
Ageing players
Rohit, Kohli and veteran spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are under pressure after being unable to pull their weight in the NZ series.
The former Australia keeper-batter said as India having several ageing starts in their ranks, a little bit if circumspection could be there within them though they are all top internationals and have ability to regroup quickly.
“There are a few ageing players (with the Indian team) who may start to even second guess themselves a little bit. There’re some high-class cricketers in that Indian squad. It’s going to be fascinating to see how they rebound from that challenge,” he added.
