The best way for the Indian team to silence its critics and detractors is by performing well in the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) on their tour of Australia, failing which a few farewells could be seen — says former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali.
Holders India will begin their defence of the BGT in a five-Test series, beginning with the tour-opening Test in Perth from November 22.
The visitors are under pressure coming into the series, having been whitewashed 0-3 at home by New Zealand — the first such instance for the Indian team in a three-Test series on home soil.
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Add to that the woeful form of star batters like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma during the five Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand at home, Basit feels India’s only focus should be on getting their act together — which they managed to do in their historic series triumphs on the last two Test tours of Australia.
“Aapne apni performance se sab ko chup karana hai (you have to silence everyone with your performance),” Basit advised the Indian team in a video on his YouTube channel. “Par agar aap yeh nahi kar paye toh mera khayal hai teen-chaar player tata-bye bye ho jayenge Champions Trophy ke baad (if they are not able to do that, then I think 3-4 players will be dropped), which could include (head coach) Gautam Gambhir.
“It’s 70% visible, with the kind of news I am reading,” he added.
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India are likely to be without their regular captain Rohit Sharma for the first Test of the BGT, as his wife is expecting their second child. In Rohit’s absence, his designated deputy, Jasprit Bumrah, will lead the side in Perth.
India need to win four of the five Tests in Australia to outrightly qualify for the World Test Championship final.
