Former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan criticised the national team for underestimating Australia after losing the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Wassan reckons the Indian team had already got the reality check when they lost all three Tests against New Zealand at home.
All three results were possible on day five of the Test and India had worked their way to what seemed like a draw in the post-tea session. However, Australia sparked an epic collapse, claiming the remaining seven wickets in the final session to take a 2-1 lead in the five-Test series.
#WATCH | On India losing to Australia in the 4th test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Former Indian Cricketer Atul Wasan says, “…How can you undermine Australia? On the last tour, you (the Indian team) did a good job. It doesn’t happen like this that you go there… pic.twitter.com/izOHWiSho8
— ANI (@ANI) December 30, 2024
Speaking to ANI, the 56-year-old
“Maine pehle bola tha I think it’ll be 3-0. Agar 3-0 bhi ho jaaye toh thik hai. Logon ko galat fehmy ho chuki thi, reality check toh ho chuka tha jab teen match haar gayi thi New Zealand se. Par Australia ko undermine kaise kar sakte ho? Jab pehli baar gaye they, Warner aur Smith nahin they. Pichli baar gaye they, kaafi accha kaam kiya. Har baar jaayenge aur jeetke aayenge aisa hota nahin hai. So, I think we had overestimation about our team.”
(Previously I said, it will be 3-0 and thought it will be fine. But some people had misconceptions and got a reality check. But how can you undermine Australia? In 2018, Warner and Smith weren’t there. When they won the last time, that was sensational. But it’s not important that you’ll win every time.)
“Harsh decision India mein leta nahin hai koi. I feel Australian cricket ka culture and ethos hai, it’s better. They don’t flinch. They just tap on any great player. Steve Waugh was told, ‘If you don’t announce your retirement now, we will drop you’. So Waugh announced I’ll retire with this series and not in the middle of it. Isliye you shouldn’t ask questions like ‘when are you retiring?’. This is wrong and I hate it if he retires in such a low phase.”
