The Indian cricket team is currently gearing up for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia. India is currently without their regular captain Rohit Sharma, who will join the squad before the second Test against Australia in Adelaide.
As Perth’s Optus Stadium is ready to host the much-awaited five-match Test series opener from November 22, former England captain Michael Vaughan has expressed his doubts on Rohit Sharma’s captaincy and Gautam Gambhir’s coaching style that could define their chances to record a historic hat-trick of Test series wins in Australia.
Michael Vaughan questions Rohit Sharma’s leadership and Gautam Gambhir’s coaching ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
Vaughan has pointed out that the Indian cricket team has tasted success in their last two Test series Down Under, under the dominant captaincy of Virat Kohli and with the guidance of the charismatic coach Ravi Shastri. However, the former England captain believes that replicating that success in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 will not be a walk in the park.
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Well, India has dominated Australia in their last two tours, but Michael Vaughan is not sure whether the current captain, Rohit Sharma, can emulate the leadership qualities that Kohli brought to the table Down Under. Notably, Kohli and Shastri joined hands to push an aggressive and front-foot approach, which rattled the Australian cricket team on their home conditions.
But with Ravi Shastri no longer at the helm and Rohit’s captaincy under the spotlight, Vaughan wonders if the Indian cricket team can continue their dominance in Australia. The Englishman also emphasized the importance of playing Australia with a bold and aggressive mindset.
Who’s going to be the Virat Kohli?
While Kohli was instrumental in leading India with aggression and confidence, Vaughan questioned whether Rohit could bring the same intensity to the team. With the fiery, no-holds-barred approach that has become India’s trademark in Australia, Vaughan pointed out that there is a void left by Shastri’s absence, and it would be a big challenge for them this time around.
Michael Vaughan was quoted as saying by the Indian Express: “The last two times they’ve come here, they’ve won, and they’ve had a charismatic coach (in Ravi). They’ve had a captain in Virat Kohli. I’m a big believer (that) when you play Australia, there’s only one way to play them (and) that’s being on the front foot, being aggressive and trying to ruffle a few feathers. Ravi could do it. Virat could do it.
I want to know in this Indian camp, who’s the Ravi Shastri? I don’t think there can be another one, but who’s going to be the Virat Kohli? Can Rohit arrive and kind of captain in a similar sense? I think that’s going to be the big challenge for India over the course of the next few weeks.”
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Michael Vaughan backs Virat Kohli to shine in Australia
Vaughan claimed that Virat Kohli’s form would be crucial in India’s chances to defend the trophy in Australia. He also noted that Kohli enjoyed great success on Australian soil, so his form could be the deciding factor in the five-match Test series.
He signed off by saying, “I think Virat Kohli, when he comes here, when he lands in Australia, he lands and knows that this is a place that he’s had a huge amount of success. You could argue which of the number fours has the biggest series could be the deciding factor of the whole series.”