Home
Head coach Gautam Gambhir has laid down clear-cut instructions for Team India players ahead of the fifth Test against Australia which is scheduled to start from January 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Team India find themselves in a precarious position, trailing 1-2 in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. With their backs against the wall, they are in a do-or-die situation in the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground which will decide their WTC final fate.
Gautam Gambhir's stern warning for Team India players
Meanwhile, ahead of the decisive match, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the media, stressing on the team's core philosophy. Amid ongoing discussions about players expressing themselves freely and playing their natural game, Gambhir has warned the team of prioritising their natural game over team's need. He wants team to prioritise team goals over individual interests.
"There is only one tendency and there is only one discussion - it's the team-first ideology that matters. You need to play what the team needs. You can still play your natural game in a team sport - but if the team needs you, you need to play in a certain way," Gambhir said in the pre-match press conference on January 2.
"Every individual knows in which area they need to work. When you play for your country, you want to give your best. I think the debates between a player and a coach should remain between them-conversations should be restricted to the dressing room. We had just one conversation in our dressing room-how we will win the next Test, as it is important for us," he further added.
Meanwhile Gambhir confirmed that Akash Deep will be missing out for the fifth Test against Australia due to back issues.
"As of now, Akash Deep is out (for the fifth Test) due to a back issue," Gambhir confirmed.
However, on being asked about Rohit Sharma's playing XI chances he remained evasive, rather said it will be decided after looking at the Sydney wicket.
"Everything is fine with Rohit, We are going to have a look at the wicket and announce the playing XI tomorrow," Gambhir further stated.
Rohit is yet to fire with the bat in the series and has managed to score only 31 runs across five innings in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Notably, in the last three series he has played so far, Rohit notched only 164 runs in a total of 15 innings riding on just one fifty at a weak average of 10.93. Rohit also recorded the lowest-batting average(6.20) for a touring captain in a Test series in Australia (minimum five innings) after back-to-back failure in MCG Test which India ended up losing by 184 runs. Notably, Rohit surpassed West Indies bowling legend Courtney Walsh's record of 7.75 which he clocked in the 1996/97 tour of Australia.
Australia's Playing XI for 5th Test against India
Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (captain), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
ADVERTISEMENT
