 
It’s almost time for the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Cricket fans are ready to see India face Australia. One of the many predictions and analyses ahead of the event caught my attention—the ex-Australian cricket star fears that India may repeat their famous Kanpur heroics. In a recent statement, the former player alluded to an instance of this trait of India’s-one that they had used to their advantage in a 2010 Kanpur Test-by saying that the Australians might be in for some problems again.
This blog expounds on apprehensions by the ex-player, re-looks at the unforgettable 2010 Kanpur Test, and sees how India’s tactic may influence the BGT series from here on.
The Kanpur Test: A Glorious Indian Comeback
This test match between India and Australia in 2010 happens to be among the Test matches that any cricket fan would recall to date as an enthralling contest that showed the resilience of India. Threated for the first time with a draw, India woke up on the last day of the match to take the test, thereby ending their series on the higher side. The test proved to be a turning point for both the teams, as India was able to prove their capability to bounce back while facing adversity.
In the final innings, Australia needed only a draw to salvage pride, but they saw themselves crumble under pressure as India’s bowlers made short work of their batting order. Indian bowlers like Pragyan Ojha and Harbhajan Singh outwitted them with their excellent tactics. And in the last few moments, India chased down the modest target to leave stunned Aussies flabbergasted.
The erstwhile Australian superstar, probably talking about this riveting match, would caution that the current Indian team, with an all-strength batting lineup and a fine bowling attack, may once again repeat this heroics in the all-important BGT series. His words would indicate that India had a legacy of winning close games that could haunt the Australians’ conscience.
Could India Repeat Another Tactical Masterstroke?
All this isn’t entirely unfounded either, for the part of the former Australian cricketer. India has always had an approach to BGT based on strategic superiority and psychological resilience. While Australia topped the Test game handsomely in recent years, India has always managed to spot weaknesses in the Australian game at the right moments of matches.
India will play the next edition of BGT at home, and home advantage has suited them well in all the encounters against Australia in the past. The spin-friendly pitches with unpredictable turn and reverse swing often trouble even the best of the Australian batters, and India knows how to let loose these factors in its favor.
Moreover, batting and bowling depth from India to Australia would be a challenge. The cricketers in Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have proven to be match-winners at home, in particular. They are true wicket-takers, but they can turn the match around with the bat as well.
The fear of the ex-Australian cricketer might have a base reason because of the Indian team’s acumen in dealing with pressure situations. They can opt for a draw but, as things are known, India never backs off from chasing victory even in trying scenarios. This attitude may lead Indians to replicate another masterstroke of tactics like in Kanpur.
Australia’s Preparation and Concerns
Australia, on the other hand, would prepare themselves for the upcoming battles in the subcontinent. They will look to tame Indian spin arsenal, who have been known to decimate the opposition’s home soil in the past. The Australians have always faced a lot of pressure at the prospect of Indian spin in the past BGT series held in India, thus crumbling afterward.
The ex-Australian star commented that Australia might be tempted to play conservatively, seeking draws in tricky situations rather than facing defeat. However, India’s aggression might not let that happen to them very often. If Australia does not raise the intensity of the match up to the level of the Indians, they might find themselves back at the mercy of the situation as was the case during the Kanpur Test.
This deep batting lineup will demand the best of Australia’s bowlers in order to conquer India. Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Rohit Sharma may form a considerable portion of the Indian batting in the course of this series. Thus, long concentration spans and discipline would be a prerequisite for Australia’s bowlers should they wish to stem India’s attack. The resurgence of Indians during the first Kanpur Test of 2010 testifies to how quickly India can bounce back once concentration is slackened.
India’s Confidence and Momentum
India will enter the BGT with a confident zest, backing their recent triumph in international cricket. They are unbeaten on home soil, and the team has the perfect balance of experience and young talent looking to make an impact, and experience can swing a game around even at highly tense situations. Aggressive Rishabh Pant and the ever-dependable Jasprit Bumrah give India a deadly combination of aggression with a touch of control.
The fear also reflects the improvement of Indian Test cricket record against Australia in recent years, especially two successive series win Down Under. India has proven that they are able to beat Australia on their own turf, which has made the series all the more interesting.
Australia can’t have still not reminded itself that India can be a really tough team to beat when at home. By the fact that every match of the BGT series has featured very close contests, India’s chances of repeating their Kanpur heroics remain massive.
Conclusion: Will India Turn the Tide Again?
The ex-Australian cricket hero is on the dot apprehending when he feels that India can well reproduce their Kanpur heroics, and the reasons to believe in this apprehension are much more strengthened by the influences of home advantage, relative tackiness, and presenting oneself under pressure. Australia has all the firepower for the challenge with India, but India needs to think of Australia’s never-say-die attitude in situations where a draw comes almost guaranteed.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy between these two cricketing superpowers is almost here, and everybody will eagerly wait to see if India would repeat the unforgettable memories of Kanpur or if Australia would rewrite the script and answer them. Any way, this series promises to be a cracker.
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