Twist In The Tale Leaves India Humbled In Dress Rehearsal

If the idea was to assess the form of World Cup aspirants, there was very little to get excited about.

- Rakesh Rao

What was meant to be a timely home series to consolidate the gains from the recent ODI triumphs in Australia and New Zealand produced a late twist in the tale.

In the end, the Indian fans wondered whether Virat Kohli’s men were really as strong as they appeared at times.

Irrespective of what Kohli would like the team’s supporters to believe, Australia demonstrated in good measure that India was beatable. Not just once but thrice in a row.

Self-belief boosted

In the process, Australia gained more than just a historic come-from-behind series triumph. It left the Indian shores with excess baggage of self-belief, with Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa being the chief sources.