Former Aussie head coach thinks India can turn things around in Melbourne

After the debacle in Adelaide, India are desperately preparing for the big challenge of Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. While experts believe that it’s going to be a tough ask for Team India, former Australia batsman and head coach Darren Lehmann thinks that the Indian team has it in them to turn around things in remaining matches of the Test series.

Lehmann thinks that India have quality players who can orchestrate a comeback in Melbourne.

“It will be hard now for them, but they’ve actually got some quality players if they can get on a roll,” Lehmann told ‘SA Sportsday’.

The 50-year-old also suggested that the pitch at MCG may suit India better due to its flat nature. And if Indian batsmen manage to handle the bounce, the bowlers will help them script a much-needed comeback.

“They can certainly cause some trouble with the ball, it’s just whether the batsmen can cope with the bounce. The MCG pitch will suit them a bit better because it’s a bit flatter.”

India are without the services of regular skipper Virat Kohli in the remaining matches and that puts the onus of putting runs on the board on players like Cheteshwar Pujara and stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane.

“So, we’ll see if their batsmen can bounce back and make some runs, especially in the first innings. That’s going to be the key for them,” Lehmann said.

The two teams meet for the second Test in Melbourne, starting 26th December.