“Team Does Not Give Up Easily..”, Says Rohit Sharma On India’s Performance At Brisbane Test

December 18, 2024: After the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia ended in a draw due to persistent weather interruptions, Indian captain Rohit Sharma reflected on his team’s performance and their relentless mindset despite the challenging conditions in Brisbane.

The match, which had seen a thrilling but rain-affected contest, was marked by both sides’ attempts to push for a result, but the weather ultimately stole the spotlight. Australia declared their second innings at 89/7, setting India a challenging target of 275 runs in 50 overs. However, the rain and wet conditions meant that the match could not resume in time to allow any meaningful pursuit of the target, and both teams ended up shaking hands with the result still hanging in the balance.

At the post-match press conference, Rohit was full of praise for his team’s resolve and their ability to fight back, irrespective of the situation.

Rohit made it clear that India’s never-say-die attitude has been a hallmark of the team’s approach, and this Test was no different. He stated, “This mindset has been with our team for a while now—whatever the situation, we don’t give up easily. We want to keep fighting.”

He specifically highlighted the team’s efforts in the second innings when India bowled with intensity, aiming to dismiss Australia for a small total. “Even when we bowled in the second innings, we maintained the same intensity, aiming to bowl them out for 60-70 runs because we knew they would play their shots and try to score quickly. That creates opportunities, and we did get some,” he said. However, he acknowledged the inevitable time constraints in the final chase, stating that India didn’t have enough time to pursue the target of 270-280 in just 50 overs.

Despite the frustrating draw, Rohit was quick to note that the performance in Brisbane would serve as a confidence booster for the team ahead of the Melbourne Test. He reflected on the pressure both teams faced, saying, “There’s pressure on the opposition too. Until you put pressure on the other team, you won’t know how they react under it. When we were here last time, we chased down 320-330 [328] on the final day, and they’ll have that at the back of their minds. They know we are capable of such chases.”

The skipper acknowledged the belief the team had gained from their past success in similar conditions, particularly referencing India’s memorable chase in Brisbane during the previous series. Rohit’s optimism was evident as he added, “What happened today has given us confidence heading into Melbourne.”

However, he also emphasized the need for careful planning, recognizing that conditions in Melbourne would be different from Brisbane. “We are aware that we have to start from scratch. The conditions there are different, and the ball may not move as much as it did here. We need to analyze and plan accordingly,” he said, ensuring the team remains focused and prepared for the next challenge.

While the weather stole much of the action in the final stages, there were promising signs from India’s top order. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul looked comfortable against Australia’s pace attack, which included the experienced Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. The pair was able to find the gaps and played some confident strokes, giving India hope for a strong chase, albeit under the threat of further rain interruptions.

However, with play halted due to persistent showers, it soon became clear that a result was unlikely. Rohit’s assessment of the situation reflected a mature understanding of the team’s performance under the challenging circumstances.

India will now look ahead to the next Test in Melbourne, where they will aim to carry forward the confidence they have built while also adjusting to the conditions. The match in Melbourne is likely to present a different set of challenges, with the pitch expected to offer less movement than Brisbane, and the weather more predictable. India will need to recalibrate and re-focus, but with a determined mindset and the momentum from Brisbane, the team will be eager to continue their pursuit of victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Rohit Sharma’s leadership in this Test, despite the frustrating interruptions, exemplified his ability to keep his team focused on the bigger picture and adapt to changing situations—a quality that will undoubtedly serve India well as the series moves forward.