'No hope, no hope' - Mark Waugh rules out the possibility of India making a comeback in the Test series against Australia

Former Australian cricketer Mark Waugh believes that India has no chance of making a comeback in the four-match Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia and they will be smoked 4-0 on the Australian soil. Indian team suffered an annihilation on the Day 3 of the first Test against Australia in Adelaide as they were bundled out for 36 in their second innings, their lowest ever Test total.

Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were the architects behind Australia’s success in the second innings as they had picked four and five wickets respectively. Australia easily chased down the paltry total posted by India and clinched the game by 8 wickets thereby taking a 1-0 in the four-match Test series.

While many cricket pundits are speculating a comeback by the Indian team in the Boxing Day Test, Mark Waugh is of the view that India were capable of winning only the Adelaide Test and having lost that, there are no hopes of the visiting nation. He believes that the absence of Indian skipper Virat Kohli will make a big difference.

“No hope, no hope. (On whether India can bounce back in the Test series). I thought Adelaide was the Test that they could win on paper and with Virat Kohli here for just the one Test. I thought the conditions would suit them.”

“I just can’t see how they can bounce back (after) Australia whitewashed them on the third day. So ‘no’ is the answer – four-nil to Australia.” Mark Waugh said while speaking on Fox Cricket.

India to make a lot of changes in their Playing XI

After suffering a major setback in the Adelaide Test, India is expected to make as many as five changes in their Playing XI for the Melbourne game, starting from December 26. The opening batsman Prithvi Shaw who is having a torrid run can be dropped from the team to pave the way for young Shubman Gill at the top.

In the same light, Rishabh Pant, who had a great season last time India had toured Australia, can be added in the team in place of Wriddhiman Saha as the wicketkeeper-batsman while Ravindra Jadeja can replace Hanuma Vihari. Also, the visiting nation will be forced to make two changes in the form of KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj as Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami are unavailable for the rest of the series.