India’s Rohit says players need to have the right mindset to perform on Australian pitches

BANGALORE: After India’s weaknesses with the ball were brutally exposed in the 3-0 home defeat to New Zealand, captain Rohit Sharma said it was important his players were in the right frame of mind ahead of the upcoming tour of Australia, which promises be difficult.

The Black Caps became the first team to whitewash India at home in a series of three or more Tests after the hosts collapsed in their chase of 147 in Mumbai on Sunday.

After being dismissed for 46 and 156 in Bangalore and Pune, the latest capitulation left Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar wondering whether it was simply poor shot selection that let them down or whether they lacked preparation and match practice.

Indian batters must now prepare for the transition from turning tracks on home soil to the pace and bounce of Australian pitches, with the opening Test in Perth scheduled for November 22.

“We talk a lot about the game, but sitting with each person and telling them what they need to do or how they need to have the right mindset is not going to be easy,” Rohit told reporters.

“They come in with a certain mindset, a certain mindset about their games. This has brought them success in the past. But we all understand that it will be a different ball game in Australia.”

The 37-year-old added that it is vital to create the right atmosphere for those players who have not yet experienced the intensity of testing in Australia.

“For young players who haven’t been there before, it will be important to create an environment where they feel comfortable and not afraid of where they are playing and who they are playing against,” he said.

“It’s important that we, on our part, continue to tell them that this is another place to play cricket.”

India will prepare for the series with three-day match simulations after the practice game was cancelled.

“We will be training at the WACA Stadium, which is near Optus (Perth Stadium), where there are all those bounces and carries,” added Rohit, who said he was still unsure about playing the first match due to personal reasons.

“Hopefully we can use these three days perfectly and make the most of our opportunities from our point of view.”

India, who beat Australia away from home in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons, will play five matches Down Under this time and need to win four of them to reach a third consecutive World Test Championship final next year.