Updated On: 08 January, 2025 08:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Balvinder Singh Sandhu
When players like Rishabh Pant get criticised for a bad shot, they often switch to a defensive mode, which is exactly what happened in the first innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground

India’s Rishabh Pant pulls against Australia on Day Two of the fifth Test in Sydney. Pic/Getty Images
The recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy series was dominated by the bowlers from both sides, but the Aussie batters, who had a better understanding of the conditions, managed to outscore the Indians.
The Indian batsmen, apart from a few, were struggling to get their basics right and lacked the mental resilience to handle the pressure and counterattack effectively.