All not lost, calculated risks may see India retain BGT

Despite being outplayed by Australia in three consecutive Tests, hope is still alive for the Men In Blue

- TRIDIB BAPARNASH

As the dust settles on the 184-run loss in Melbourne, it is time the Indian team puts the setback behind and look forward to bounce back in the fifth and final Test in Sydney, starting 3 January. The turnaround time for the next Test is short, and thus they have a couple of days to regroup and revisit their strategies before the action begins at the SCG.

A 2-2 scoreline would not only be enough for the visitors to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy they have held in their hands for the past decade, but more importantly it could keep them in the race to the ICC World Test Championship final in June, 2025.

But Lord's is a distant dream for now; the immediate focus is on winning the Sydney Test.

In the past, India have managed to come back strongly when they have been pushed against the wall, and the team needs the same kind of gas to push the Aussies at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where they are yet to win a Test in 46 years. The only time an Indian team won a Test in 13 appearances at the venue was way back in 1978. However, India drew their last three Tests at the venue in 2015, 2019 and 2021.