Perth, 21 November (IANS). Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah has said that the Indian team will face Australia in Perth with full confidence and is not carrying any burden of the defeat in the home series against New Zealand last month.
India is preparing to face Australia, but the recent defeat in the New Zealand series has added complications. The team suffered a 3-0 clean sweep at the hands of the Kiwis, which included a 25-run defeat at the Wankhede Stadium. This was India’s first clean sweep defeat in a home Test series since 2000 and their first defeat in a series of three or more matches.
India will enter the five-match series with a clear objective: to win four matches and reach the WTC final for the third consecutive time.
Bumrah said in the pre-match press conference, “When you win, you start from zero, but when you lose, you also start from zero. We are not taking any burden from India. Yes “We have learned something from the New Zealand series, but the conditions were different there and our results have been different here.” Bumrah, who will lead the team in the absence of regular captain Rohit Sharma, further said, “We have finalized our playing XI and you will know before the start of the match tomorrow morning.
The Indian fast bowler also expressed confidence in the team’s preparations, pointing to their historic competitive performance in Australia. The Perth pitch, known for its bounce and pace, is expected to be bowler-friendly, which will provide an interesting twist to the series opener.
The first Test will start on 22 November in Perth. Adelaide will host the second Test starting on December 6, followed by Brisbane on December 14. The Boxing Day Test will take place in Melbourne on December 26 and the fifth final Test will begin in Sydney on January 3, 2025.
This will be the first time that India and Australia will play a five-match Test series. The upcoming series is crucial for India’s World Test Championship final hopes after the recent defeat against New Zealand, as India’s points percentage currently stands at 58.33 per cent and is behind table-toppers Australia.
To strengthen their chances of qualifying for the third consecutive WTC final, India will need to win at least four of the five Tests.
–IANS
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