NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant‘s exceptional performance during India’s previous tour of Australia has left a lasting impression on batting legend Matthew Hayden. The former Australian opener believes that Pant’s “muscle memory and thirst for victory” will make him a crucial player for the Indian team when they embark on their upcoming five-Test series in Australia later this year.
The highly-anticipated Test series is set to commence on November 22 in Perth, and Pant’s presence in the Indian lineup is expected to be a significant factor in their quest for success.”Guys like Rishabh Pant have got a muscle memory and the thirst for victory. He was such a key player last time he played there and the Australian public loved him as well, because of the nature of the way he played his game,” Hayden told media, as quoted by PTI, on the sidelines of ‘CEAT Cricket Rating Awards’ in Mumbai on Wednesday.
“It was exciting. It was innovative. It was just fresh and good. Then you have got your old stewards, like Virat Kohli, (he) will want to make an impression again. From a batting point of view, I’m excited to see how India have that strategy to take on the Australian conditions,” the Australian added.
Pant has staged a remarkable comeback to the sport following a harrowing accident that threatened his life in 2022. His return to the national team has been nothing short of spectacular, as he aims to replicate his heroic performances from the historic 2020-21 tour of Australia.
During that unforgettable series, Pant played a pivotal role in India’s triumph, scoring a scintillating 97 and an unbeaten 89. His fearless approach and ability to take on the Australian bowlers in their own backyard were instrumental in India’s success.
Against all odds, a depleted Indian side, missing several key players, orchestrated one of the most incredible comebacks in the annals of Test cricket. They defied expectations and stunned a formidable Australian team on their home turf, securing a victory that will be etched in the memories of cricket enthusiasts for generations to come.
The visitors rebounded from the humiliation of being bowled out for 36 in the opening Adelaide Test to secure a 2-1 victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, their second consecutive series win.
After the Adelaide match, Kohli had to return home for personal reasons, while five other players, including key pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, were sidelined due to injuries and fitness concerns.
“The great thing from an Indian perspective is that when you look at the last victory, there was no Virat Kohli. There was very much a second team bowling line-up that won at the Gabba,” Hayden said.
“That’s the kind of confidence that you can expect this Indian unit to go to our shores (with) and go, ‘guys, we’ve done this before, and we’ve done it in a way that’s second to none, even without our key players’,” he said.
Pink Tests take away Australia’s home advantage
Hayden remarked that scheduling a day-night Test often diminishes the advantage Australian teams have traditionally enjoyed. In the upcoming series, the two sides are set to play a Pink Ball Test in Adelaide.
“Once you get those overhead conditions under that twilight zone, they can be really difficult,” he said.
“I would go as far as to say that the home advantage in Australia has been taken away quite a lot, simply on the basis that if you get (on) the wrong side of a certain session, be that you are four for 130 at twilight, you can (soon) be eight for 150.
“There’s no chance to actually really naturally dominate a game,” he added.
Hayden praised Pat Cummins, noting that he has united his team like no other Australian captain before, leading Australia to victories in both the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup last year.
“He has a very special leadership style and ability. It’s a very different style to the former captains of the Australian cricket team that were (about) very much a carrot and stick type approach,” he said.
“He’s operating on a model that’s bringing out the individuals and individual preparation in particular – something which our game struggles with being a team sport,” he added.
Hayden remarked that Australia, under Cummins’ leadership, has become an exceptionally close-knit team, earning the respect of former players like himself, who were initially upset by the way former coach Justin Langer was dismissed.
“I (have) followed this team very closely over the last two years and they’re an extremely close team. Even the former players, when we were upset with the removal of Justin Langer, they closed ranks and doubled down on how it is that they wanted to go about their work,” he said.
The highly-anticipated Test series is set to commence on November 22 in Perth, and Pant’s presence in the Indian lineup is expected to be a significant factor in their quest for success.”Guys like Rishabh Pant have got a muscle memory and the thirst for victory. He was such a key player last time he played there and the Australian public loved him as well, because of the nature of the way he played his game,” Hayden told media, as quoted by PTI, on the sidelines of ‘CEAT Cricket Rating Awards’ in Mumbai on Wednesday.
“It was exciting. It was innovative. It was just fresh and good. Then you have got your old stewards, like Virat Kohli, (he) will want to make an impression again. From a batting point of view, I’m excited to see how India have that strategy to take on the Australian conditions,” the Australian added.
Pant has staged a remarkable comeback to the sport following a harrowing accident that threatened his life in 2022. His return to the national team has been nothing short of spectacular, as he aims to replicate his heroic performances from the historic 2020-21 tour of Australia.
During that unforgettable series, Pant played a pivotal role in India’s triumph, scoring a scintillating 97 and an unbeaten 89. His fearless approach and ability to take on the Australian bowlers in their own backyard were instrumental in India’s success.
Against all odds, a depleted Indian side, missing several key players, orchestrated one of the most incredible comebacks in the annals of Test cricket. They defied expectations and stunned a formidable Australian team on their home turf, securing a victory that will be etched in the memories of cricket enthusiasts for generations to come.
The visitors rebounded from the humiliation of being bowled out for 36 in the opening Adelaide Test to secure a 2-1 victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, their second consecutive series win.
After the Adelaide match, Kohli had to return home for personal reasons, while five other players, including key pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, were sidelined due to injuries and fitness concerns.
“The great thing from an Indian perspective is that when you look at the last victory, there was no Virat Kohli. There was very much a second team bowling line-up that won at the Gabba,” Hayden said.
“That’s the kind of confidence that you can expect this Indian unit to go to our shores (with) and go, ‘guys, we’ve done this before, and we’ve done it in a way that’s second to none, even without our key players’,” he said.
Pink Tests take away Australia’s home advantage
Hayden remarked that scheduling a day-night Test often diminishes the advantage Australian teams have traditionally enjoyed. In the upcoming series, the two sides are set to play a Pink Ball Test in Adelaide.
“Once you get those overhead conditions under that twilight zone, they can be really difficult,” he said.
“I would go as far as to say that the home advantage in Australia has been taken away quite a lot, simply on the basis that if you get (on) the wrong side of a certain session, be that you are four for 130 at twilight, you can (soon) be eight for 150.
“There’s no chance to actually really naturally dominate a game,” he added.
Hayden praised Pat Cummins, noting that he has united his team like no other Australian captain before, leading Australia to victories in both the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup last year.
“He has a very special leadership style and ability. It’s a very different style to the former captains of the Australian cricket team that were (about) very much a carrot and stick type approach,” he said.
“He’s operating on a model that’s bringing out the individuals and individual preparation in particular – something which our game struggles with being a team sport,” he added.
Hayden remarked that Australia, under Cummins’ leadership, has become an exceptionally close-knit team, earning the respect of former players like himself, who were initially upset by the way former coach Justin Langer was dismissed.
“I (have) followed this team very closely over the last two years and they’re an extremely close team. Even the former players, when we were upset with the removal of Justin Langer, they closed ranks and doubled down on how it is that they wanted to go about their work,” he said.