IND vs AUS: Adam Gilchrist rings alarm bells in Rohit Sharma's ears before Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist recently opened about the Test series victory over India in the 2004 tour under his leadership.

Adam Gilchrist also said that he was mentally scarred from the 2001 India tour, where Australia suffered a series defeat despite winning the first game.

Adam Gilchrist served as the Test vice-captain during his career. He stepped up as captain during Australia's 2004 tour of India due to Ricky Ponting's fractured thumb.

The Australia national cricket team achieved a 2-1 series victory in India for the first time in more than 30 years under Gilchrist's leadership.

The left-handed batter scored a century in the first Test match, where the Men in Yellow won by 217 runs.

They won the third Test match by 342 runs in the third Test match before the Indian team won the last game. Gilchrist also excelled as a wicketkeeper with 16 dismissals throughout the series.

I Was Absolutely In Panic When We Were Playing - Adam Gilchrist

Speaking on the "Stories After Stumps" podcast, Adam Gilchrist said that he was named unexpectedly as captain during Australia's 2004 tour of India. He admitted feeling unprepared for the role, especially recalling a moment during the Champions Trophy in the UK.

"I was absolutely in panic when we were playing I think in the Champions Trophy in the UK. We were at Edgbaston and he kind of took the ball on the thumb but he never (usually) left the field. It didn't matter how bad an injury it was, he kind of stayed out there. He's a tough little fellow. But he went off and never came back out. So we realised that: 1. he's out of that tournament and 2. if it's broken, he will not be able to go to India, certainly not at the start," Gilchrist recalled.

Adam Gilchrist was made captain ahead of Australia's tour of India in 2004 - but it wasn't a job he felt ready for 🇮🇳🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/5ZVlDzyWv5

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 29, 2024

Started To Get Nervous Straight Away - Adam Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist revealed that he felt nervous while leading the Australian team during the 2004 tour of India due to the memories of the 2001 series, which was a mix of highs and lows for him. He recalled scoring a century in the first Test but then suffering a King's Pair and two low scores in the final match.

"So I started to get nervous straight away, mainly because the memories of 2001, which was an epic series, one of the great Test match series, for me personally. (I) Went from highest of the highs - scoring a hundred in the first Test of the '01 series but then closing the series out with a King's Pair at Eden Gardens, and another pair of 1s in the last Test.

"So I was mentally scarred from the back bit of that tour. Was I ready to go back there in general? I wasn't sure. And then to have to captain's armband on, I was even less certain," he added.

Australia Lost Test Series Against India In 2001 By 2-1

Australia, led by Steve Waugh, entered the tour of India with a 16-Test winning streak. They started the series with a 10-wicket victory in the first Test in Mumbai, where Gilchrist scored a century. However, India secured a historic victory during the second Test after following on, and they won the series 2-1.

Also read: Taijul Islam 'fully prepared' to replace Najmul Hossain Shanto as Bangladesh Test captain