Gautam Gambhir believes that Indian Cricket Team-led by Virat Kohli will have a lot of confidence going into the Perth Test starting from December 14 with the 1-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, saying it will be an exciting contest between the touring side and Australia in Perth.
With the new Perth Stadium wicket likely to suit the fast bowlers, Gambhir has claimed that whichever team puts the big total on the board is going to win the second encounter of the four-match Test series while saying that Australia will be wary of the visiting Indian team.
On the sideline of an event in the build-up to the ICC World Cup 2019 on Wednesday (December 12), Gambhir told ANI, “I think it’s going to be a good contest. India will obviously have a lot of confidence going into the Perth test match, because it is 1-0 advantage India. Australia will always be wary as Indians can come strong. If India do well, the series is obviously gone.”
He added, “I’m sure it’s going to be an exciting test match. The wicket is going to suit the fast bowlers, so whoever can bowl well and put the runs on the board will be the one to dominate the test match.”
Meanwhile, the 37-year-old refused the ‘chokers’ tag on India, as they haven’t won any World Cup since winning the prestigious title in 2011, saying it is just about crossing the line and there’s nothing that stops us from crossing the line, as India is undoubtedly the most consistent side in ICC tournaments.
He further added on the same, “I don’t think so. I think it’s important to be consistent. You win the 2011 and then the 2013 Champions Trophy in England. There are other sides as well who are playing very good cricket, whether it’s England, Australia in the One-day format and other countries. I think India is probably the most consistent side in ICC tournaments. We played the last Champions Trophy final as well where we got beaten by Pakistan.”
On World Cup 2019, Gambhir believes that India’s first aim must be of to reach the knockout stage then there’s nothing that stops them from crossing the line in the showpiece event in England next year.
Gambhir signed off by saying, “Going into this tournament, your first aim is to reach the knockout stage. Anything can happen once you qualify for the knockouts because it’s just on the given day as well. You don’t say India has become chokers, it’s just about crossing the line and there’s nothing that stops us from crossing the line. We should be happy they have played very good cricket in ICC tournaments till now.”
(With ANI Inputs)
