Tim Paine Expresses Concerns Over India Ahead of Australia Series, Warns Rohit Sharma

Australian captain Tim Paine has voiced his concerns regarding India's prospects in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scheduled to begin on November 22 in Perth. With both teams vying for qualification for the World Test Championship (WTC) final set for June 2025, Paine believes Australia starts as the clear favorites despite recent performances.

Australia's Advantage

Paine, who experienced the pressure of facing India during his captaincy, noted that India's recent struggles could work against them in the series. After suffering a home Test series loss against New Zealand—India's first in 12 years—Rohit Sharma and his team have faced increased scrutiny. Paine commented, “Australia are going to start pretty strong favorites. I think India have not been playing pretty well, their batting looks a little brittle."

He also highlighted the absence of Mohammed Shami as a significant loss for India, adding that Jasprit Bumrah will have to shoulder a heavy burden. “Shami is going to be a huge difference; Bumrah, there is so much on his shoulders. If he gets hurt, then it’s curtains for me,” Paine warned.

Mistakes Cost India

Reflecting on India’s performance against New Zealand, Paine mentioned that the team made numerous mistakes that contributed to their downfall. “No. They (New Zealand) are not very good. Is that harsh? Unbelievable performance, no doubt about that. But that makes me worry a little about India, totally honest. Coming to Australia, without Mohammed Shami as well, but New Zealand have always been an amazing team at scrapping and getting the best out of themselves if you make a mistake," he remarked.

He added that India’s errors were exploited by New Zealand, leading to their defeat. “I think India made far too many mistakes in the series. New Zealand's catching was unbelievable, hats off to them, but if they were to play Australia in Australia right now, is it going to go well for them? No,” Paine asserted.

The Need for Resilience

Paine emphasized the importance of mental resilience and grinding out tough situations during a Test match. He referenced Cheteshwar Pujara, who played a crucial role in India's 2020-21 series win in Australia, saying, “What I do remember, a lot of people talk about Rishabh Pant in the last series in Australia, but the guy who won them the series was Pujara. He wore us down, he wore our fast bowlers down. He kept getting hit on the body, but he kept getting up. There is still place for that in Test cricket.”

As the series approaches, Paine’s remarks serve as a stark reminder for India that they must address their weaknesses and regroup effectively to face a formidable Australian side on home soil. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy not only promises fierce competition but also poses a significant challenge for both teams as they seek a place in the WTC final.