Team India Have The Momentum Going Their Way In The Sydney Test: Chris Gayle

Hard-hitting West Indian opener, Chris Gayle feels that Team India is at advantage going into the third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. Gayle asserts that Ajinkya Rahane’s team has the momentum on their side after a thumping 8-wicket victory over the hosts in the second Test at the MCG.

The left-hander opines that the track at the SCG will be good for batting initially – and will later help the spinners like any traditional SCG pitch in the past – Kuldeep Yadav took a 5-wicket haul in Sydney on the previous tour – which will make India favourable as they have two high-quality spinners in Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, both of whom have done exceptionally well in the series hitherto.

“Well, they have built momentum now to play at Sydney Cricket Ground as well, it should be a batting paradise. And I think that their (India’s) spin came into play. Hence, it shows the advantage is actually with India.” Gayle told TimesofIndia.com.

India always had a very strong bench: Chris Gayle

The ‘Universe Boss’ also pointed out that the strength of India’s bench as the visitors bounced back strongly in Melbourne shrugging off the ghosts of Adelaide. In absence of 4 first-choice players – Ishant Sharma, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, and Rohit Sharma – the youngsters and other senior members of the side stepped up to level the series.

Gayle, who has 42 international hundreds and over 13,000 T20 runs, reckons that while nobody can fill Virat Kohli’s massive shoes in the team, however, led by Ajinkya Rahane and his brilliant hundred the visitors have shown the abundance of talent in their squad.

“That’s a big plus for Team India, you know, big players missing, someone gets the chance to cash in and make the best use of it. And they (India) got a victory as well. So it’s fantastic from a team point of view. India always had a very strong bench, so the guys who will come in will always be ready, you know, to actually fill those gaps. No one can fill Kohli’s boots, you know, but that’s how it is now,” the West Indian added.

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