Team India’s Middle Order Issues in Border-Gavaskar Trophy
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is fast approaching, and Team India has set its sights on achieving a hat-trick of series wins in Australia. However, this time, the road to victory is expected to be tougher. One of the key challenges facing the team is the vulnerability of the middle order.
In the past, the middle order was a strength for India, especially during the 90s when Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman solidified it. Later, MS Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane added stability. But with Rahane’s departure, the middle order has struggled for consistency, and in the current series, it appears to be particularly fragile.
Rishabh Pant, however, remains a beacon of hope. In previous tours of Australia, Pant played match-winning innings, such as his 159 in Sydney in 2019 and a stunning 89 in the final Test of the last series. Yet, after his recovery from a road accident, Pant has shown inconsistent form, leaving questions about whether he can replicate his past heroics.
KL Rahul, another key player, has been underperforming, although the team continues to rely on his experience. With Rohit Sharma unavailable for the first Test, Rahul is expected to open the batting, which could lead to the opportunity for players like Dhruv Jurel or Nitish Kumar Reddy, who lack experience in Australia, to step into the middle order.
The middle order’s performance is critical as Australia’s fast bowlers, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, are ready to exploit any weaknesses. Along with Nathan Lyon’s spin, the pitch conditions in Australia are expected to challenge India’s batting, especially in the middle order. It remains to be seen how India handles the pressure against the formidable Australian team.
