India Can Save The Test Match If Rohit Sharma And Shubman Gill Give Them A Good Start: Sunil Gavaskar

Former India captain, Sunil Gavaskar believes that if the Indian team bats with ample determination. especially if the openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, provide a solid start, then India could comfortably save the Brisbane Test – a result with which the visitors will be satisfied.

As things stand after stumps on Day 4 at the Gabba, with the series is level, India needs to chase 328 and Australia needs to take 10 wickets to win the match and take the series. However, Australia must win the match to take the Border-Gavaskar Trophy; any other result otherwise, India would retain the trophy.

Gavaskar points out that the pitch has started to deteriorate and have shown uneven bounce on Day 4, hence a decent start from the openers will calm down the nerves in the Indian dressing room. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill both notched up their respective half-centuries at the SCG.

“Yes, we have seen the highest chase over here has been 236 and that was in 1951. India have a hard task ahead of them. If they show determination, then they can save the game. If you had seen, there were odd deliveries that were keeping low. There are a couple of cracks at the center of the pitch, not on a good length area,” Sunil Gavaskar told Sony Sports Networks.

“It is going to be difficult because you don’t know what have you have to do, whether you have to go the runs or defend. If Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill give India a good start, I think there will be a lot of guys breathing easier in the dressing room,” he added.

The Sydney Test might have played in Australia’s mind: Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar also feels that Tim Paine’s job was cut easier as Australia were bowled out, else the Aussie skipper could have been confused by the timing of the declaration. In the Sydney Test, India could have indeed won the game, had Hanuma Vihari not pulled his hamstring; Rishabh Pant with his quick 97 lit hopes for a victory.

Hence, the 1983 World Cup winner Sunil Gavaskar opines that it was a blessing in disguise for Paine that his side was bowled out, and he wasn’t forced to take a call on a declaration.

“I would have thought because of what had happened in Sydney, the way Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara stitched that partnership together and gave India a sniff. Then, of course, the unfortunate injury to Hanuma Vihari meant India had to abandon plans of going for a win,” Sunil Gavaskar further said.

“So that might have played in Australia’s mind. While I was doing commentary, I was saying it would have been a blessing in disguise if Australia gets bowled out so that they don’t have to think about the declaration,” the former opener added.

Also Read: Watch: Rishabh Pant Becomes A Singer On The Field As He Hilariously Sings Spiderman Spiderman And Aims To Spin A Web Against Australia