Former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel recently commented on the Indian batting unit’s collapses in recent matches, particularly during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, where India has struggled to post substantial scores.
“There is no doubt that collapses have occurred, especially in home series. We have seen collapses on rank turner pitches against New Zealand. When we toured Australia, the collapses continued there,” Patel remarked to Cricbuzz.
Patel observed similar collapses during India’s home series, particularly on challenging turning pitches against New Zealand. He noted that these collapses also persisted during India’s tour of Australia.
“I do not believe this has happened due to extreme aggression. If we respect the traditional style of Test cricket and bat with discipline, these are the same batters who have previously performed well. Indian batters need to apply themselves more because they have the ability. If they bat with discipline, they can succeed anywhere,” he added.
Patel attributed the issue not to excessive aggression but rather to a lack of discipline. He believes that the same batsmen, who have demonstrated strong performances in the past, need to adhere to traditional Test match batting principles. He emphasised the importance of application and discipline for success, regardless of the playing conditions.
Ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Australia, several Indian players engaged in rigorous practice sessions. Batsmen Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant spent considerable time in the nets. Meanwhile, bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and other pacers practised with high intensity.
The Indian team took a rest day on Monday, 24 December, to prepare for the fourth Test scheduled to begin in Melbourne on 26 December.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a five-match series, is currently tied at 1-1.
India secured a commanding 295-run victory in the first Test in Perth. Australia responded strongly, winning the second Test in Adelaide by ten wickets. The third Test in Brisbane ended in a draw due to rain interruptions.