I firmly believe that for a team to succeed, the head coach, captain, and chairman of the selection committee must be on the same page. When they share a unified vision, it gives the team the right direction. A strong head coach—someone with experience, confidence, and the ability to take risks at the right time—will stand firm, even when it means challenging players who aren’t giving their best or are distracted. Ravi Shastri, for example, was a master at this. He would privately have stern words with them when needed, but always back players publicly. That’s the kind of leadership that helps teams stay on track.

Preparing for a tough series, especially against Australia, is like gearing up for battle. Australian pitches are bouncy and playing with clear mental discipline and believing in one’s ability to execute under pressure, is crucial. The batsman has to play a bit upright to neutralise the extra bounce that Aussie pitch provide, while keeping the body behind the line of the delivery when playing a defensive stroke. When short balls arrive, it’s often better to stay beside the line of the delivery to execute an attacking horizontal bat stroke, or leave them easily. Playing vertical-bat strokes requires caution, especially when the ball bounces more than waist-high, which is common in Australia.