India tour is an emotional roller-coaster: Adam Gilchrist

Former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist has had numerous memorable achievements on the 22 yards under the sun, but one that will stand out is their successful Test series against India in India in the year 2004. He recalled their success during the 2001 tour, where then skipper Steve Waugh has termed it as “no-whinge tour”.

The cricketers were not allowed to complain about food, flights, hotels and everything. Gilchrist who led the team in 2004 during the absence of Ricky Ponting, followed the same rules. “I was very much a follower and believer of most things Steve Waugh was talking to us about. I took that very much on board and tried to do that as much as possible, still do now. I find it a fascinating country,” Gilchrist, who has business interests in India, told Fairfax Media.

“It’s a country that weighs you down, too. You have highs and lows, it’s an emotional roller-coaster, on the field and off the field. You’ve got to find a way to escape from it – if it’s in your hotel room, but you don’t want to become a prisoner to your hotel room, you have to get out there.” Gilly said.

He stressed on the fact that it is the attitude that will be counted when a side plays against India in their backyard. It doesn’t necessarily confine to going out of the crease and striking the ball or playing on the front foot all the times, and looking to score runs or take wickets, but the mental setup.

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“It’s [attitude] going to be a huge percentage of what’s required. The ingredients to success is a positive attitude, not just positive like you have to use your feet and go after the spinner but everything.”

Another former Australian cricketer Shane Watson recently said that the upcoming tour to India can’t be worse than the one in 2013. All-rounder Watson and three others (James Pattinson, Mitchell Johnson, and Usman Khawaja) were suspended for one Test match during that particular series. Watto backed opener Matt Renshaw to come good against India.