Australia vs India 2018: Opening Pair is Very Critical for Team India - Sachin Tendulkar

Well, opening batsmen will always play a massive role in the game of cricket. Especially, when it comes to the Test format, and in the overseas, the onus on them will always be double. Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar also speaks on the same, asking the Indian openers and the number three player to dominate the things in the first 30 overs of the game in Australia vs India 2018 series.

Of late, team India opening batsmen have fared pretty poorly. The selection has become a big headache, as none of them has been consistent. Recently, the young Prithvi Shaw showed glimpses of being consistent for the side, but unfortunately, he got ruled out from the first Test. Elsewhere, KL Rahul’s form is another major concern as well.

Bowlers will be in the game for a longer time in Australia – Sachin Tendulkar

Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar, who has got the fine records to his name on the Australian soil asked the Indian openers to be aware of the hardness of the ball. He added top-order needs to bat with a lot of intent to keep Australian bowlers at bay.

“When you are travelling to these places, the opening pair becomes very critical. In fact, 1, 2 and 3 and sometimes, even No. 4 gets in quickly. The responsibility of 1 to 3 is to play out almost the first 30 overs,” he says.

And also, Sachin Tendulkar also spoke on the conditions in Australia, which would trouble the batsman in most of the cases. Further, he felt that batsmen should be on their toes if Australia delivers green tops for the visitors.

“But that again boils down to the surfaces that you get to play. I said before the start of the England tour that the first 40 overs are critical, after that the ball loses its hardness. There might be a little bit of swing later on, but it just gives you the time to adjust; when the ball is new the hardness of it does not give you the time.

“In Australia, the first 30-35 overs are going to very critical when the ball is new and the seam is upright. Then the seam kind of flattens and fast bowlers may not find zip off the pitch. The first 35 overs would be critical; unless they provide green tops where all the bowlers will be in the game longer,” says Tendulkar. 

Well, it would be interesting to see how the Indian openers would approach the game against Australian fast bowlers. Hopefully, they would come better this time.