Team India recorded their lowest ever Test score (36/9) in their humiliating 8-wicket defeat at the hands of Australia in the first Test at the Adelaide Oval.
The visitors had a first innings lead of 53 runs but the Australian pacers, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, ran through the Indian batting line-up in the first session on Day 3 to change the course of the game.
Hazlewood (5 for 8) and Cummins (4 for 21) took all the wickets between them as none of the Indian batsmen managed to touch the double-digit mark.
Commenting on India’s abysmal batting performance, Rajeev Shukla, who is set to become the BCCI vice-president, said that the board president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah are highly concerned about it.
"We are not happy, it was not a good score and we are really concerned. The BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah are concerned about it and both are working on some plans through which the performance can be improved. They will obviously be in touch with team management. I am quite optimistic and hopeful that in the next Test match we will definitely do better," Shukla told ANI.
When asked whether batting legend Rahul Dravid should be flown to Australia to guide the Indian batsmen, Shukla replied: "Nobody will be flown to Australia, our performance in the first innings against the hosts was good, we even took the lead but in the second innings we collapsed, it happens sometimes, after that all the corrective measures have been taken and I think our players are capable of improving the performance and they will definitely look at the wicket conditions in Melbourne and accordingly a composition of the squad will be worked up."
Regulars Skipper Virat Kohli won’t be taking part in the remaining three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as he will head back home on paternity leave. Ajinkya Rahane will lead the side in the remainder of the series.
The second Test will be played in Melbourne from December 26.
"Australian tour has always been a challenging tour and if you go by the earlier performance, it was very difficult to face the Aussie bowlers. Now the Indian team is showing a very brave front and they have started playing and making good runs in Australia. Virat's absence will be there but other players are also very competent and I think the team will definitely do very well," Shukla concluded.
(With ANI inputs)
