NEWS
Follow UsIndia went down by eight wickets in the first Test against New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, and will have to win the next two Tests in Pune and Mumbai to keep their record of not losing a series at home in a decade intact.
Moreover, India also have a five-match Test series against Australia, starting November 22. Former Australia pacer Brett Lee believes India are a powerhouse who can beat anyone on a given day. "This day and age, India is a powerhouse that don't want to bow down. They know how to win, and they know they can beat Australia; they know they can beat the Kiwis. They know they can beat anyone on any given day," Lee told Fox Cricket.
India scored at a run-rate of close five an over, smashing 462 in the second innings, to give them an outside chance of winning the Test after being bowled out for 46 in the first innings. Lee feels Bazaball might have inspired India before taking the field. "India just didn't go into their shell. Maybe it's Bazball brushing off on other cricketers around the world," he noted.
"I know that India won't be proud of the way they played. They played some pretty loose shots."
India decided to bat first in overcast conditions in Bengaluru and were bundled out for just 46, and Lee believes that they have to be a little better in assessing the conditions. "You've got to weigh up the risk factor as well. There are times when you've got to go, 'Okay, well, maybe the big shots aren't working today'. Maybe just rein it in a little bit. I don't think they sort of summed up the conditions as quickly as what they should have done," he said.
India are currently on the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle and will hope to keep it that way as they take on New Zealand in the second Test in Pune, starting October 24 (Thursday).
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