When the term “sledging” echoes in the world of cricket, memories often harken back to the Australian cricket team of the late 90s and early 2000s. Renowned for their classic banter, aimed at getting into the heads of their opponents, sledging became an additional weapon in their arsenal. A recent viral video circulating on social media depicts a young captain passionately delivering a fiery pep talk, urging his players to engage in sledging right from the outset.
Australia, under the captaincy of Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, not only gained fame for their on-field skills but also for their aggressive sledging tactics. The team from Down Under achieved numerous victories with their cricketing prowess, complemented by their mastery of the art of sledging. This approach proved successful as Ponting’s Australia secured two World Cup titles during that period.
In more recent times, Virat Kohli’s Team India came close to emulating the Australian style, particularly in Test cricket. Kohli, during his captaincy tenure, instilled a fearless approach in his players. Under his dynamic leadership, India achieved back-to-back Test series victories in Australia, overcoming multiple challenges. Kohli also led the team to five consecutive Test maces from 2017 to 2021.
However, Kohli decided to step down as India’s Test captain at the age of 35 after a narrow series loss to South Africa in 2022. Rohit Sharma took over the captaincy, guiding India to the final of the WTC last year, where they faced a defeat against Australia.
Presently, India finds itself in South Africa for a two-match Test series. Unfortunately, the visitors suffered a setback in the first Test, losing by an innings and 32 runs. The second Test is scheduled to commence on January 3 in Cape Town.
