Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21: Gautam Gambhir lauds India's dominance in first innings of Adelaide Test

First Published Dec 24, 2020, 5:57 PM IST

India is coming off an uncompromising performance in the opening day-night Test in Adelaide, for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India lost the match by eight wickets in two and a half days. Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir feels that the side should stay positive for the Boxing day Test.

<p>India will find it tough to recover from the setback it suffered during the opening day-night Test in Adelaide, as it was blown away within just two and a half days. India is the defending champion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as it gets set to take on Australia in the Boxing Day Test, in Melbourne, from Saturday.</p>

India will find it tough to recover from the setback it suffered during the opening day-night Test in Adelaide, as it was blown away within just two and a half days. India is the defending champion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as it gets set to take on Australia in the Boxing Day Test, in Melbourne, from Saturday.

<p>Although India dominated both halves of the first innings, it was decimated in the second, getting bundled out for its lowest Test total of 36. Nonetheless, former Indian opener, Gautam Gambhir, feels that although it might be difficult for the side to move on, it still has positive to take from both the innings, especially the first.</p>

Although India dominated both halves of the first innings, it was decimated in the second, getting bundled out for its lowest Test total of 36. Nonetheless, former Indian opener, Gautam Gambhir, feels that although it might be difficult for the side to move on, it still has positive to take from both the innings, especially the first.

<p>"They need to remember that they actually dominated the first two days, they were ahead in the game throughout the first two days. They will be hurt about the one session, but again, they need to remember that there are three test matches and at the same time they won't have their best player Virat Kohli with them; their captain," said Gambhir on <em>Star Sports</em>.</p>

"They need to remember that they actually dominated the first two days, they were ahead in the game throughout the first two days. They will be hurt about the one session, but again, they need to remember that there are three test matches and at the same time they won't have their best player Virat Kohli with them; their captain," said Gambhir on Star Sports.

<p>Gambhir also focused on the fact that with Virat Kohli being on paternity leave, the onus would come down to stand-in skipper, Ajinkya Rahane. At the same time, the absence of prolific seamer Mohammed Shami could also hurt the side.</p>

Gambhir also focused on the fact that with Virat Kohli being on paternity leave, the onus would come down to stand-in skipper, Ajinkya Rahane. At the same time, the absence of prolific seamer Mohammed Shami could also hurt the side.

<p>"So, there is a lot of onus on Ajinkya Rahane, plus Mohammad Shami will not be there. There will be a lot of onus on what combination they go with," Gambhir reckoned.</p>

"So, there is a lot of onus on Ajinkya Rahane, plus Mohammad Shami will not be there. There will be a lot of onus on what combination they go with," Gambhir reckoned.

<p>Gambhir also notable of Rahane batting at number four. Being the captain he needs to lead from the front, along with KL Rahul at number five, Rishabh Pant at number six, followed by Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin at seven and eight, respectively. He also backed India to move in with young opener Shubman Gill and five bowlers, including three seamers.</p>

Gambhir also notable of Rahane batting at number four. Being the captain he needs to lead from the front, along with KL Rahul at number five, Rishabh Pant at number six, followed by Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin at seven and eight, respectively. He also backed India to move in with young opener Shubman Gill and five bowlers, including three seamers.