Former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar believes the drawn Test match against Australia at the Gabba, Brisbane was like a morale win for India. The visitors had their backs against the wall in the third Test as the home team posted a par score of 445 runs on the board after Rohit Sharma decided to bowl first.
Bangar reckons India would have found it difficult to draw the game if rain had not played killjoy. The visitors scored 260 runs in the first innings after fine fifties from KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja. The tourists were struggling at 74-5 at one stage and 246 looked far away.
“It is entirely a win. When 445 runs were scored in the first innings, if the entire play had happened in this Test, it would have been very difficult for India to come back in the match. The rain also helped India. Now the upcoming Test matches become very interesting,” Sanjay Bangar said on Star Sports.
Bangar noted that South Africa would qualify for their maiden WTC final but it would be a race between Australia and India for the second spot.
“If the series ends at 2-2 or 2-1 for either team, the Australia-Sri Lanka series will become very important. I feel South Africa have a slightly easy path to reach the final but these two teams have a lot of chances. Australia have four chances for sure but there are more chances of the percentage points going down in four chances. So India have given themselves an excellent chance of reaching the WTC final,” Bangar added.
The former Indian all-rounder added India should play the mind games as they have the advantage on their side.
“We have now got the chance to play mind games. Australia had the chance to play mind games earlier and they tried to use that. The scoreline is not in their favor based on the itinerary. (Josh) Hazlewood, one of their main bowlers, will probably be out of the series,” he said.
Bangar said Australia’s top-order is under the pump as Jasprit Bumrah has had his wood on them.
“Their top order is not scoring runs. They have not understood Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling thus far. They have given him 21 wickets. Overall, I feel the Indian team’s morale will be higher. Australia will be sitting disappointed and India will go to Melbourne happy,” Bangar observed.
The fourth Test match between India and Australia will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from 26th December.
