Jonathan Trott, in his autobiography Unguarded, called the Australian cricket team’s mentality “circling like hyenas around a dying zebra”. Trott was referring to his experience in the 2013-14 Ashes in Australia, where he left the tour after the first Test due to a long-term stress-related illness. Trott admitted that Mitchell Johnson had terrorised him at the Gabba and even called the left-arm speedster his “executioner.”

Australia have a history of playing aggressive cricket, which has often given them an advantage, especially at home. However, in recent years, India under Virat Kohli tormented Australia. India, under Kohli, played with an all-out aggression and managed to outplay Australia at their own game.

The big question is whether India can maintain the same intensity this time.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan credited former India captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri for instilling self-belief in the team which helped them not only conquer Australia but also crack the tough Australian mindset in their last two tours.

“They’ve done it the last two times,” Vaughan told The Indian Express.

“But I would just look at the style of leadership that helped India win in Australia (2018-19 & 2020-21). The last two times they’ve had Ravi Shastri as a coach, and I just think his charismatic approach and his extra positive approach have brought about a cultural change in the Indian dressing room, which has played a big role,” he said.

India won 2-1 in 2018-19 and 2020-21. However, in the last tour, Virat Kohli left the team after the day-night Adelaide Test following the embarrassing 36 all out in the second innings. India, led by Ajinkya Rahane, turned the tide, winning the next Test in Melbourne, drawing the Sydney Test, and then shattering Australia’s unbeaten 32-year streak at the Gabba.

Vaughan said, that even though Virat left after the first Test, it was still his team playing his style of aggressive cricket.

“Obviously Virat Kohli was the captain, he had to go home early the last time, but it was his team playing his style of cricket,” said Vaughan.

However, Vaughan doesn’t see the same level of intensity in this team and hopes that under Gautam Gambhir, they will be able to find the same level of mentality that helped them succeed in the previous tours.

“I don’t see that at the minute. Things can change, and Gautam can quickly get a team playing to his style. But to play Australia, you’ve got to be so positive, you’ve got to be so aggressive. And I’m just hoping that India can find that same level of mentality that they had the previous two times.”

On Fox Cricket, Vaughan maintained that despite India’s recent successes in Australia, replicating them would be tough.

“I’m a big believer that when you play Australia, there’s only one way to play them: being on the front foot, being aggressive and trying to ruffle a few feathers. Ravi could do it. Virat could do it. I want to know in this Indian camp, who’s the Ravi Shastri? I don’t think there can be another one, but who’s going to be the Virat Kohli?

“Can Rohit arrive and kind of captain in a similar sense? I think that’s going to be the big challenge for India over the next few weeks,” Vaughan said.