Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir wants Team India to remember that they were ahead in the pink-ball Test for the first two days. India lost the first Test match by 8 wickets after being bowled out for 36 runs in the second innings which gave them a lead of only 89 runs to defend.
Gambhir feels India should take the positives from the first Test and look to come back in the upcoming Test matches. The visitors will be playing the last three Tests without Virat Kohli, and Gambhir is looking forward to the team combination in his absence.
“They need to remember that they actually dominated the first two days, they were ahead in the game throughout the first two days,” Gambhir said on Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’.
“They will be hurt about the one session but again they need to remember that there are three test matches and at the same time they won’t have their best player Virat Kohli with them; their captain,” Gambhir added.
Not only Kohli, but India will also miss the service of Mohammad Shami because of an unfortunate injury in the first Test. “So, there is a lot of onus on Ajinkya Rahane, plus Mohammad Shami will not be there. There will be a lot of onus on what combination they go with,” Gambhir said.
The Indian cricket team is expected to include KL Rahul and Shubman Gill in the Boxing-Day Test match.
(PTI Inputs)
