31 October,2024 08:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Clayton Murzello
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant
Forty-five years ago, in the first week of November 1979, India under Sunil Gavaskar were primed to win the country's first-ever series against Australia since 1947-48. The venue of the historic series win was the same Wankhede Stadium, where India face New Zealand today, in an effort to duck the ignominy of enduring the country's first-ever home whitewash across three Tests.
In the first innings of that 1979 Test, India amassed 458-8 declared. Gavaskar scored a hundred. So did Syed Kirmani as a nightwatchman while opener Chetan Chauhan got 73 and Karsan Ghavri smashed a 99-ball 86. That was enough for Kapil Dev & Co to dismiss Australia twice and win by an innings and 100 runs.
Can Rohit & Co dish out a similar result? Going by ability, yes. Going by form, probably not. But then, tigers are most dangerous when cornered. None of the senior batters have got to three figures with due respect to Pant's 99 in Bangalore.
Also Read: NZ skipper Latham expects âgreat battle' in final Test
ALSO READ
A fraction of his IQ!
Sunny Gavaskar criticises timing of R Ashwin's retirement
"Gavaskar's suggestions are welcome but hope he suggests others also": Rajkumar
Sunil Gavaskar urges Kohli to avoid cover drive, leave balls outside off
In four innings out of five on this series, we've seen the same story: Bangar
Not only are the senior batters short of runs, they also need to improve their averages of the last three years (as highlighted in the adjoining graphic) to a point of them matching their overall impressive averages.
âGo big in Mumbai' could probably be the war cry ahead of the battle of Oz. Over to Wankhede.
