Former Australia pacer Brett Lee feels the "new India" today, under an extremely passionate and expressive captain such as Virat Kohli, has a competitive mentality similar to his countrymen.
Lee played against an Indian team that couldn't have been more different in demeanour to its Australian counterparts. Individuals like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath weren't short of aggression at all but believed in letting only their bat and ball talk.
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Lee reckons the two sides are hardly differentiable in their attitude today, with someone like Kohli leading the way. And the 43-year-old believes playing the IPL together is one of the major reasons behind this change.
"I think it is because of the fact that there's been so many Australian coaches who have come over to India," Lee told Sportstar. "So many Indian players are mixing with Australian players in the IPL, I reckon that has helped and it has rubbed off. The Australian mindset of never giving up has rubbed off on new India. It has helped the world cricket and also Indian cricket."
What has also changed with India is that it now has a battery of fast bowlers running-in all day, unlike the past where spinners ruled the roost.
"I think it's great," Lee said. "I've been really excited with the way Indian cricket has progressed. Back in 2001, when (VVS) Laxman and (Rahul) Dravid batted for the whole day, that really was a monumental day for Indian cricket in all formats. That really put India on the map, saying that we can compete with Australia and we can actually beat him as well."
"Back in the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s, there was a feeling that you could always dominate India. They had good spinners, good batsmen but still you felt they could be dominated."
"Now, it’s different. Now, India dominates. They can dominate now with a bit of in your face stuff, not over the top. The way India plays its cricket is fantastic -- without going over the top. They are respectful, they are being too nice. I think they have got the right balance," he added.
Among current Indian fast bowlers, Lee thinks Jasprit Bumrah is really special.
"The current Indian pace attack is very, very good, led by Jasprit Bumrah," he said. "He is the guy who can also increase his pace. A few little things…you know he is working on with his action, with shooing with that arm pulling down harder and pulling out straighter. He has really improved his action bit. I am really impressed with the way he bowled in the last couple of years."
(Inputs from Sportstar)
