'Damaged their confidence': Marnus Labuschagne mocks India for 0-3 sweep vs NZ

The 30-year-old Australia National Cricket Team star batsman Marnus Labuschagne has stated that the India National Cricket Team will be entering the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 low on confidence.

Marnus Labuschagne believes that the humiliating 0-3 Test series defeat at home against the New Zealand National Cricket Team would have shattered the confidence of the India National Cricket Team.

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New Zealand humbled India in a three-match Test series

The New Zealand National Cricket Team came to India on the back of an embarrassing Test series loss to the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team, and nobody gave them a chance. India were overwhelming favorites to clinch the series as they had just hammered Bangladesh 2-0.

However, as the series began, things completely changed as the Black Caps started dominating and the Rohit Sharma-led side looked clueless.

The Kiwis won the first Test at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru by 8 wickets before clinching the series at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune by beating India by 113 runs.

Team India were completely shocked after facing the defeat in the second Test as it was their first-ever Test series defeat at home in over a decade. To make matters worse, India also lost the third Test by 25, and the Men In Blue suffered their first-ever 0-3 sweep in the history of Test cricket at home.

I think that's a good thing in terms that they are probably a bit low on confidence - Marnus Labuschagne

Speaking ahead of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Marnus Labuschagne said that India coming to Australia on the back of a Test series loss is good news for the Aussies.

However, Marnus Labuschagne made it very clear that they won't be underestimating the visitors as they are a quality team.

"Having India come here at the back of a loss at home is something that has never happened before, so I think that's a good thing in terms that they are probably a bit low on confidence, not coming off a Test victory, losing to New Zealand in India.

"I think that's gonna do a little bit of damage to their confidence but at the end of the day, they are a quality line-up and one of the best teams in the world. So you can never underestimate a team like that," Labuschagne told reporters on Tuesday.

I think Marnus is really up for the series - David Warner

Marnus Labuschagne had a great start to his Test career and he became the World No.1 batter in the ICC Rankings twice. However, he has not been at his best since the Ashes 2023 and has been going through a lean patch.

Still, the former Australia National Cricket Team batsman David Warner is confident that Labuschagne will be able to deliver for the Aussies in the marquee Test series.

“Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne... probably in their right minds, are overdue for some runs," Warner said on Fox Cricket.

“I think Marnus is really up for the series; I’m hoping that he has a big series for Australia.”