India created history by winning their maiden Test series Down Under in 2018-19, but this time around, they are not looking enough to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, especially after their humiliating defeat in the Test in Adelaide, according to Brad Haddin.
Haddin, former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman, believed the conditions at the Adelaide Oval were conducive to Indian cricket and their lethal pace-bowling attack, but unfortunately, they failed to make the most of it and now the coming matches would be even more challenging for the tourists.
Team India recorded their lowest-ever Test score of 36 in their second innings as Australia clinched the first Day-Night Test by eight-wicket to take a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series and the 43-year-old, who featured in 66 Tests for Australia, doesn’t think Indians “will recover from the loss”.
Haddin told SEN Radio: “I don't think they will (recover from the loss). I thought their only opportunity to win a Test match was the first Test at Adelaide. I thought the conditions suited their bowling and I thought they'd get enough runs. But I don't think they'll be able to turn it around.”
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He further added, “You've got one Test up at Brisbane where no one beats Australia. These next two wickets will be suited to Indian cricket, but I don't think they'll be able to turn it around.”
On India’s horrible batting collapse, Haddin pointed out: “I think it's really concerning. Yes, India were driving the game and we were talking at the start of day three about how Australia would get back into it, but the collapse they had has to leave some marks.”
The Aussie also feels India doesn’t have enough depth to cover the loss of Mohammed Shami – who ruled out of the Test series after suffered a fracture in the first Test after coming without experienced pacer Ishant Sharma to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
He noted, “They had a great bowling attack the last time they come out here, and now with Shami out with a broken arm they don't have enough depth to cover that.”
India will also not have the services of their captain Virat Kohli in the rest of the Test series, leaving for home on paternity leave and Haddin said the tourists will have a lot of headache in term of team selection for the upcoming Boxing Day Test at MCG starting December 26.
Haddin signed off by saying, “There were a few performances from the Indian batsmen that will come under scrutiny over the next week. Do they go in with (Wriddhiman) Saha? Who goes to the top order for Prithvi Shaw? Rohit Sharma comes out of quarantine, does he come back into the side? They have a lot of things they're going to have to tackle over this next week leading into this next Test.”
(With PTI Inputs)
