Now there's some serious wounds opened up, there could be a good chance of a sweep: Ricky Ponting

The humiliation India suffered during the first pink-ball Test in Adelaide would be hard to take down the spine in times to come. When fans expected a great start in the Border Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, what unfolded next was a series of ugly events. Even after having a decent lead in the first innings, India’s order saw a dramatic collapse in just 21 overs on the third day of the Adelaide Test.

India was wrapped up on merely 36 runs, the team’s new lowest in the history of Test cricket. The performance has opened up many wounds, and various cricket experts and analysts around the world are stepping up to give their opinions on the same matter. Former Australian great Ricky Ponting is the latest one in line and feels that there might be a clean sweep in the tournament.

“Now, there’s some serious wounds opened up. There could be a good chance (of a sweep). Let’s hope we do get a result in Melbourne, and if we do, I think India’s going to find it really hard to bounce back and win a game,” said Ponting to cricket.com.au.

Now, the hosts are already up with a 1-0 lead in the ongoing Test series, and the coming three matches will go without the presence of skipper Virat Kohli. In the same light, Ponting has stated that India is going to have a tough time bouncing back in the Boxing Day Test under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane.

There’s almost no one to pick India back: Ricky Ponting

“We’ll learn a lot about them, won’t we? With Kohli not being there as well, there’s almost no one to pick them back up after a loss like that,” he added.

It’s a matter of concern for India that young Prithvi Shaw performed below average in

both the innings of the first game. His chances have to be reconsidered, and Kohli’s slot has to be filled in with the best option. Ponting believes that it will be wise for India to give chance to Shubman Gill and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.