Gavaskar lashes out at India’s lack of preparation ahead of Test series
MUMBAI — Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar lashed out at the Indian team management saying there should have been more practice matches before the start of the Test series in England.
India lost the first match of the five-match Test series by 31 runs two days ago, with all of their batsmen failing to score runs except skipper Virat Kohli.
Gavaskar raised objections to the team management’s decision to reduce the proposed four-day match against Essex to three days and playing just one practice game in the 14-day gap between the third ODI on July 17 and the first Test.
“See Virat Kohli is such an exceptional talent, he can take 15 days off and then score a hundred the next day. If he takes time off, no quarrel at all. But he has to understand, and the team management have to understand, that others need practice,” Gavaskar told India Today.
“I understand the need to switch off, but it can’t be five days. The preparation should have been much more intense at the start of the series. You can taper off later, but not at the start. The last ODI was on July 17, and the Test series started on August 1.
“There were 14 days in between. And you play only a three-day match in that period? Why have you gone to England — to play cricket or something else? I agree, they have practised for long hours in those days, but like I said, you cannot get by with just practice. You have to play matches too,” he added.
Analysing India’s batsmen in the first Test, Gavaskar said only Kohli made the mental adjustment needed. “Virat adjusted temperamentally. The bat-speed in one-day cricket is higher, because you’re looking to play shots. It’s not like that in Tests,” Gavaskar said.
“The more you leave balls in Tests, the better for you, because the bowler tires. And if you keep leaving balls outside off, you will force the bowler to change his line. Virat made that adjustment, the others didn’t.
“See Shikhar Dhawan’s dismissals in both innings, Rahul in the first innings, Ajinkya Rahane in both innings — they all went at the ball with hard hands. The secret to batting in England is not to reach for the ball, but let it come on to the bat,” he added. —