In days gone by it was difficult to imagine a scenario where India would have been able to win in Australia. So often, the aggression of the Australians coupled with the most ferocious quicks in the world saw India crumble beneath the unrelenting sun Down Under. These days, it’s becoming harder and harder to imagine a scenario where India isn’t able to withstand the pressure, such is their turnaround in mindset.
The Indian team have now won the last three instalments of the Border-Gavaskar trophy with two of those series’ wins coming on Australian soil. They have successfully broken the hold that Australia had on them and are finding winning Down Under to be a task that they are more than capable of. Perhaps still, the most impressive part is that the stunning series win in Australia was managed without their best players, with the likes of Virat Kohli forced to watch the action unfold on the sidelines.
👏 “This is one of the greatest victories in the history of Test cricket.”
😲 “India have eight first team players injured or unavailable!”@SamEllard hails India for becoming the first team to beat Australia at The Gabba since 1988! #AUSvIND 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/31hrrwJYhw
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) January 19, 2021
What’s more, is that India’s domination of Australia wasn’t limited to just that of the Tests but also the T20 format. This should be particularly pleasing for fans of team India as it comes during a year when the T20 World Cup will be played. Indeed, the dress rehearsal proved to be seamless and should do enough to convince punters that they are very much the team to beat when the tournament starts in October.
Of course, the latest cricket betting odds do suggest as much with Kohli’s men at just 5/2 to win the T20 World Cup this year. But now that we have been given an insight into how India is likely to go about their business later this year, it seems plausible that those odds will drop in the build-up to the event. This is especially likely if they are able to continue this rampant form.
Another point to consider for punters who are unsure of who to back is that this magnificent Indian team will be playing at home as they are the host of the 2021 T20 World Cup. So not only are they the form team of international cricket but they also have the luxury and the added bonus of their own fans cheering them on.
Some may point to the fact that the West Indies won the last World Cup that was hosted in India in 2016 and question whether the pressure of performing in front of a cricket-mad nation is too much. Those are legitimate concerns of course, but this Indian team seems to mature every year and their current results demonstrate an appetite to prove people wrong.
ON THIS DAY…
“Carlos Briathwaite! Remember the name!!”
6⃣ 🔥 6⃣ 🔥 6⃣ 🔥 6⃣ @TridentSportsX smashed for four sixes in a row to win the 2⃣0⃣1⃣6⃣ T20 World Cup 🏆 as the West Indies stunned England in the final four years ago to the day. pic.twitter.com/E85hPCP7Fd
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) April 3, 2020
Indeed, Kohli’s us-versus-them mentality has given India a thicker skin and made them a lot more confrontational. They simply don’t let go when the bit is between their teeth.
Whatever way you look at it, India’s case to win the T20 World Cup this year is watertight. Sport can be unpredictable and upsets at any World Cup do make for the best headlines, but this Indian team looks to be the answer to all of that.
