Former Australian batter and head coach Justin Langer has backed India to do well in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy despite their recent 3-0 loss to New Zealand at home. He also urged fans to enjoy the performance of the star Indian batter Virat Kohli, as this could be his last tour Down Under.

Speaking to The West Australian, Langer said, “One thing you never do is write off champions, and that’s in every sport, because they are a champion for a reason. In India, there are one and a half billion cricket-loving people, and then count all the rest around the world, they expect nothing but excellence, and the team will be under intense pressure, so how they fight back will be important,” Langer said. “And they’ll be getting written off for being too old, but people say that all the time, and I just can’t wait to see them play. I just hope, if this is the last time (Kohli) is out here, people enjoy it because he is a superstar, so is Rohit Sharma, so is (Ravi) Ashwin, so is (Ravi) Jadeja, so is (Jasprit) Bumrah.”

ALSO READ: “Shubman’s captaincy is very good” – Ravi Bishnoi on Shubman Gill

Sharing his thoughts on India losing 3-0 at home to the Kiwis, Langer admitted that the result would have been an experience for Rohit and the entire team as well. He, however, added that India would be determined to get things right in Australia now.

“India losing to New Zealand is a bit like North Melbourne beating Brisbane in the grand final at the moment. And not for one millisecond is that disrespect for New Zealand, because they are the great overachievers; they are brilliant. I think they’d won two Test matches (in India), and to win the series 3-0, that’s an amazing achievement. They’ve just been beaten three-nil by New Zealand, so India will be humbled by that and equally determined to remedy it because the pressure on them will be intense,” Justin Langer concluded.