INDIA/AUSTRALIA: India and Australia will face off in a four-match series to start the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on February 9. Former cricket players and fans are marketing the competition on social media, which is raising interest in it.
Cricket Australia tweeted about India’s performance in Adelaide Test
Cricket Australia posted the video of India being dismissed for 36 runs in the Adelaide Test just days before the series began. Aakash Chopra, a former cricketer for India, responded to the message suitably.
“All out for 36. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy starts on Thursday!” cricket.com.au tweeted, sharing the fall of wickets from the Indian innings.
Aakash Chopra reacted with a tweet, “And the series score-line #JustAsking?” India lost the first game of the series, being bowled out for just 36 after building a 53-run first-inning advantage. India scored 244 runs in their opening inning of play before bowling out Australia for just 191.
The Indian batting order, though, was dismantled by Cummins and Hazlewood and stunningly disintegrated against the pink ball. None of the Indian batters were able to surpass single-digit totals, with Mayank Agarwal being the highest scorer (9).
After the 8-wicket loss in Adelaide, India appeared hopeless, and some former Australian cricketers projected that the hosts would win the series 4-0.
India’s problems were made worse when their skipper Virat Kohli missed the last three Test matches because he had to return home to be with his wife Anushka Sharma for the birth of their daughter.
The second Test in Melbourne saw India, led by Ajinkya Rahane, recover and win by an 8-wicket victory to tie the series. India put forth a valiant effort, battling through injuries to tie the third Test in Sydney, batting all day on the final day.
India recovered from losing the first innings advantage in the fourth and final Test at the Gabba to pull off an incredible chase on the last day. As India chased down 328 to win the series 2-1, it was the first Test match AUS had lost in Brisbane in 32 years.
Notably, a former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman sparked debate last week when he claimed that the visitors to the Indian Test series would have a chance of winning provided the playing grounds were level.
In response, R Ashwin said he expected more from the Australian camp in the coming days and acknowledged that Healy initiated the banter battle.
“Ian Healy, an Australian broadcaster and former player, offered some advice before the BGT. He has repeatedly asserted that Indians will make Australian visitors to India uncomfortable,” said Ashwin.
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