Ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, former Indian cricketer WV Raman has urged the BCCI to name legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar as the team's batting consultant. Raman thinks that Sachin Tendulkar's experience could be crucial in helping India hon their batting strategy against a strong Australian bowling attack as there is enough time before the second Test.
"I think that #TeamIndia could benefit if they have the services of #Tendulkar as the batting consultant in their prep for the #BGT2025. Enough time between now and the 2nd test. Roping in consultants is rather common these days. Worth a thought?" Raman tweeted.
Raman's proposal has generated debate among professionals and fans alike, as batting consultants are becoming a more frequent addition to support squads. Given his stellar record against the Australians, the idea of Tendulkar guiding India's batters against them is alluring. Tendulkar has played 20 Test matches in Australia over his storied career, amassing an incredible 1809 runs with an average of 53.20 and six hundreds. Tendulkar was a constant thorn in Australia's side, both at their home and in India, from his first visit in 1991 until his final one in 2013.
Tendulkar demonstrated his batting prowess during his five tours of Australia at iconic venues such as the WACA in Perth, where he amassed unforgettable hundreds, and the SCG, where he produced a spectacular 241* in 2003—a stunning knock etched in cricket history forever. Australian supporters respected and admired him for his incredible abilities, which led to his 2012 induction into the esteemed Order of Australia.
Star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are having trouble with their form, which makes India's top-order issues going into the BGT clear. In the recent 0-3 series loss against New Zealand, both players scored modest totals—91 and 93 runs, respectively—over six innings. Concerns have been raised by this collapse, particularly in light of the approaching difficult task of facing Australia. India's chances in the BGT series and their aspirations in the World Test Championship (WTC), where a spot in the final is still possible, would be greatly influenced by Kohli and Rohit's combined form.
Given that Tendulkar is well-versed in the nuances of dealing with Australia's pace and spin attacks, enlisting his help could be a calculated decision. Tendulkar's participation could offer crucial insights to assist India counter Australia's aggressive bowling lineup because of his extensive knowledge of Australian pitches and circumstances. The batting unit may feel more confident as a result of his mentoring, especially the younger players who view him as an iconic figure. Beyond the individual milestones and honours, India is poised to create history by winning the series in Australia for the third time in a row.
