Gautam Gambhir has already been asked a few tough questions after the 0-3 defeat at home to New Zealand and if the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is also lost, it can all go downhill for the former opener.
The world No. 2 India are heading into the five-Test Border-Gavaskar series, starting in Perth on Friday, following their whitewash at home, which ended their 12-year unbeaten run in their own backyard.
After several losses in the early years of the new century, a resurgent India notched up two consecutive series wins in Australia to become the Aussies' nemesis.
Can the young trio of Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Akash Deep leave a mark in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series?
Though Australia have dominated the rain-hit Test, time will most likely deny the hosts.
Skipper Rohit Sharma asserted that the 'three hours' on Day 2, when they collapsed for a lowly 46 in the first Test against New Zealand.
Despite the challenging build-up, Gambhir said he is "extremely confident" of retaining the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The players will hope to be as confident as they prepare for the fight to keep their World Test Final chances alive.
Images from Day 3 of the first Test between Australia and India in Perth on Sunday.
Suryakumar Yadav will miss the first round match after suffering a a sprain to his right thumb.
Mohammed Shami will make his long-awaited comeback to competitive cricket in the Ranji Trophy.
IMAGES from the 3rd ODI played between Sri Lanka and India, in Colombo, on Wednesday.
India will look for the right balance as they aim for a series-levelling victory against a spunky New Zealand in the must-win second Test.
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said on Tuesday that middle-order batters KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan are locked in a selection battle for the second Test against New Zealand here even though head coach Gautam Gambhir is keen to give the former, a long rope.
The Australian media summed up their team's 295-run hammering by India in the opening Test with strong headlines such as 'Perth-etic Humiliation' and 'Monster Loss', former players called for some tough decisions, including sacking Marnus Labuschagne.
Play was halted for close to 10 minutes before stadium security as well as New South Wales Police checked in to the relevant stand from where the nasty comments were being hurled at.
In response, the visitors were 51/4 on a rain-hit third day with questions being raised about batters' technique and the quality of bowling, save for Bumrah.
Rohit Sharma believes that he has played enough cricket to trust his own judgements, like he did in what will be seen as a potentially grammar changing Test match against Bangladesh, which India won by seven wickets despite the game losing more than 220 overs due to inclement weather.
Seniors Rohit Sharma,Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin received exemptions for the Duleep Trophy, starting in Bengaluru on September 5.
The prime minister also instructed his aides to inform the families of Israeli hostages about the death of the Hamas chief.
'If Rohit wants to open, KL should bat at No. 3. Nothing later than that.'
'I think we are going to see him at Punjab Kings'
The right-hander feels that keeping India's relatively inexperienced pace attack, aside from Jasprit Bumrah, on the field for as long as possible could be the key for the hosts in the five-Test series beginning in Perth on Friday.
Pujara could get the selectors' nod if Ajit Agarkar and his team decide to fall back on his experience.
Dhruv Jurel has made a compelling case for inclusion in India's playing XI for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy
'It is never BCCI's call whether to travel to Pakistan but Indian government's. Nothing changes on that front.'
Out-of-form skipper Rohit Sharma's batting position will be in focus against a dangerous Australia
Australia opener Nathan McSweeney is gearing up for a challenging debut against India's premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
At the end of the first day of play, it is the home side that is firmly in control, and India that is now reduced to chasing the game.
Mohammed Siraj was given the responsibility to take RCB home and he repaid Skipper Kohli's trust.
What changes do you think India should make for the fourth and final Test in Ahmedabad?
India has only minor concerns, but New Zealand's troubles across batting and bowling departments are more pronounced.
Zaheer not a big fan of Impact Player rule, says it's producing 'half all-rounders'
With Kohli and Rohit misfiring, the pressure has mounted on opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and India's middle order to put the kind of scores on the board their bowlers can defend.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the first Test against Australia in Perth?
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 2nd Test played between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur, on Friday.
It has become difficult for Ashwin to be even considered in the present scenario.
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