'We will be a serious challenge' - Gautam Gambhir warns Australia ahead of India Test series

Former Indian gritty opener and one of the important contributors to India’s T20 and ODI World cup glories, Gautam Gambhir has backed the Indian team to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy when they tour Australia later in the year.

Gambhir has made a powerful claim ahead of the four-match Test series beginning on the 3rd of December in Brisbane. He entrusted his confidence with the Men in Blue who he believes can retain the much-anticipated trophy, courtesy mainly of their fast bowlers.

In the 2018-19 tour, Virat Kohli led Team India won the Test series making them the first Indian side in over 70 years to beat the Kangaroos at their own den. Kudos to the celestial performances from the batsmen backed up by a brilliant bowling display from the pace battery featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma. However, the hosts were short of services of their run-machines David Warner and Steve Smith.

We will be a serious challenge to the hosts: Gautam Gambhir

The duo was missing out as they were serving a ban for their involvement in the ‘sandpaper-gate’ controversy around ball-tampering in March 2018. They are expected to be part of the squad this time posing a great challenge for the Indian bowlers along with Marcus Lambuschagne, who has been an absolute run machine since Ashes 2019. But the left-handed Indian Stalwart believes Team India has got fast bowlers to inflict difficulties on any team under any conditions.

“India has the fast bowlers to challenge any team in any conditions. I am sure with success on the last tour of Australia in the bag, if we go to Australia, we will be a serious challenge to the hosts,” Gambhir stated as quoted by Times of India.

The cricketer-turned-politician also expressed his opinion on the Men’s T20 World Cup which is in doubt to be held in Australia amid the Coronavirus pandemic. ICC has not made any official announcement on the tournament yet. “Look, these decisions are not easy to make. It has to be a well-thought-out call. I am sure ICC will clarify their stand sooner or later. It is important they take everyone else in confidence,” the 38-year-old added.