India leads 2-0 in four-Test series and has retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Former Pakistan captain and PCB chief Ramiz Raja praised India for preparing tracks that aided spin bowling at home and beating Australia in the first two Tests of the ongoing four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 series, saying that Rohit Sharma and co. are impossible to beat at home.
After winning the Nagpur Test in under three days, the Indian team defeated Australia by 6 wickets in the second Test in the same duration as Indian spinners made merry on a helpful pitch. Ravindra Jadeja was named Player of the Match for his 10-wicket haul which included a career-best 7/42.
Akshar Patel had shined with the bat, scoring 74 runs in the first innings, while Virat Kohli (44) and R Ashwin (37) also contributed to the total of 262. Australia had batted first after winning the toss and posted 263 runs with Usman Khawaja making 81 and Peter Handscomb making 72*.
Ramiz Raja was impressed by the way the Indian team dominated the proceedings on home turf.
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“How Australia’s match has finished, similarly, Aussies used to finish games against sub-continent teams in Perth or Brisbane. The tables have turned. It shows that Australia are not prepared, especially when it comes to playing good Test cricket in India. It’s impossible to beat Team India in India. An ordinary performance against spin. Nine wickets were dismissed in one session. Jadeja produced an excellent bowling performance,” Ramiz Raja said on his YouTube channel.
Raja also lauded Akshar Patel’s brilliant innings and his century partnership with Ashwin helped India narrow down the first innings lead to just one run.
“The clincher was Akshar Patel’s batting. Given the circumstance, he scored 60-70 runs. He shared a partnership with Ashwin when Australia could have got a sizeable lead. That’s because Australia were not mentally strong and there are technical flaws. Their batting against spin is disastrous. They played wrong shots, sweep shots, and ruckus batting,” he said.
Raja further asserted that, unlike Pakistan, India not only kept the playing conditions right but also backed their strategies in the game.
“It’s almost impossible to beat India on turning tracks. The strategy is very successful. Pakistan also tried to prepare turning tracks and defeat the opposition, but it didn’t happen. Not only India kept the conditions right but also they trusted their execution and talent to destroy the Australian batting attack,” Raja said.
(News18 inputs)