'Relax a little, trust your skill sets, and score big runs'- Sanjay Bangar analyses India's batting views down under

India will be up against the Australians for the fourth time in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 for the five-match series. The fourth match of the ongoing series will be played at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), and will see the two teams compete in a riveting Boxing Day Test.

Notably, the series is currently drawn with 1-1 and thus, the encounter at the 'G' becomes a virtual do-or-die for both the teams to save themselves from series defeat. Furthermore, India have had a terrible first innings' performance with the bat so far in the series, as they have managed to cross the 200-run mark just once in the three Tests.

Analysing the current scenario of India's display, former national batting coach Sanjay Bangar has given his views, suggesting that the visitors' performances in the first innings will be important for the team’s success in the remainder of the series.

“The resolution should be that we need to score big runs in the first innings. To score big runs in the first innings, your top order will have to score runs because first-innings runs have huge significance in overseas Test matches," Bangar told Star Sports.

“I feel you are in a position where you have done a lot of hard work. Now you have to relax a little, trust your skill sets, and score big runs in the first innings. If we can do that resolution, I don't think anyone in the Australian team can even try to touch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy," the former batting coach added.

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The first-innings totals for India in Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane has been 150, 180, and 260, respectively, which has also put them under pressure during the matches. The Aussie pacers have undoubtedly had an upper hand over the opposition's batting unit, and the Indians will be hoping to overcome the issue that has persisted with them in the series thus far.