Justin Langer, former Australia head coach and opener, has sent a warning to Pat Cummins and the team not to underestimate the Indian team in the upcoming BGT 2024 (Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25) five-Test series. The series gets underway in Perth with the first Test starting on November 22.
India enters the forthcoming major series fresh off a 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand earlier this month, despite having won both of its previous Test visits to Australia by identical 2-1 scores.
"One thing you never do is write off champions, and that's in every sport because they are a champion for a reason. In India, there are one and a half billion cricket-loving people, and then count all the rest around the world, they expect nothing but excellence, and the team will be under intense pressure, so how they fight back will be important.
And they'll be getting written off for being too old, but people say that all the time, and I just can't wait to see them play. I just hope, if this is the last time (Kohli) is out here, people enjoy it because he is a superstar, so is Rohit Sharma, so is (Ravi) Ashwin, so is (Ravi) Jadeja, so is (Jasprit) Bumrah. It's the same with the Australians; the bowling attack is a very senior attack now... so really enjoy it while you can; they are not going to be around forever," said Langer to The West Australian on Sunday.
India and Australia are also fighting for a place in the WTC 2025 final at Lord’s. While Australia will have two more Tests after this series, India needs to win at least four games in this series if they are to enter next year's World Test Championship final at Lord's.
In their attempt to bounce back from their loss to New Zealand, Langer believes India could prove to be a formidable foe for Australia, who arrived in Perth on Sunday to get ready for the first Test.
"India losing to New Zealand is a bit like North Melbourne beating Brisbane in the grand final at the moment. And not for one millisecond is that disrespect for New Zealand, because they are the great overachievers; they are brilliant.
I think they'd won two Test matches (in India), and to win the series 3-0, that's an amazing achievement. They've just been beaten three-nil by New Zealand, so India will be humbled by that and equally determined to remedy it because the pressure on them will be intense," he concluded.
(IANS inputs)
