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Ex-Australian Coach Targets Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli And Ashwin's Old Age Ahead Of BGT 2024-25

John Buchanan shares his insights on BGT trophy [X.com]John Buchanan shares his insights on BGT trophy [X.com]

Former Australia coach John Buchanan has shared his insights on India's upcoming five-match Test series against Australia, emphasizing the critical role that veteran batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play. 

According to Buchanan, India's chances of securing a third consecutive Test series win Down Under will largely depend on how their experienced batsmen handle Australia’s formidable pace attack.

John Buchanan Highlights Key Factors for India's Test Series in Australia

As India prepare to tour Australia for the first time since 1991-92 for an extended five-match series, Buchanan pointed out that the competition will be fierce. He noted that while both teams have ageing players, this would not diminish the intensity or quality of the matches. 

"Australia (has), since losing to India in the last series, the pace bowling attack with (off-spinner Nathan) Lyon, backed up now by Cameron Green or Mitch Marsh, is just a really, really powerful bowling lineup," Buchanan told PTI on Thursday.

Buchanan believes that the series will be defined by how well India's top order, including young talent can establish solid totals against the likes of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, supported by off-spinner Nathan Lyon.


"India's top order, (Yashasvi) Jaiswal, (Rohit) Sharma himself, (Virat) Kohli, possibly Iyer… they've got to bat really well to establish totals and then the likes of (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Shami, (Mohammed) Siraj will come into their own," he said.

Buchanan also mentioned that the psychological edge from India’s previous victories in Australia might not play a significant role this time, as key players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are unlikely to feature in the upcoming series. 

The focus, he suggested, will be on the current squads, both of which have several players at the twilight of their careers.

"But for all that, those games have passed, those players are gone and the current players we have both in the Australian side and the Indian side, they're at a stage of their careers where they all want to perform. I looked at the ages and India has got some aging players in that side notably Rohit who's 37 and Kohli is 35, (Ravichandran) Ashwin, if he tours, he's 37 and you look at the Australian side, there's only one or two players who are under 30.

"It'll be very much a battle again between the very good pace bowling attacks of both sides and how well the top order players of both sides can deal with the ball that will bounce, seam and probably swing a little bit more in the day-night game in Adelaide," he said.

The series, which kicks off on November 22 in Perth, will also feature a day-night Test in Adelaide, where Buchanan expects the ball to bounce, seam, and swing, challenging the batting line-ups of both teams.