‘I don’t think India would have…' - Sunil Gavaskar gives candid opinion on possible run chase in Gabba

The third Test match between Australia and India ended in a draw to leave the series going into Melbourne square at 1-1. Australia went into their second innings with a lead of 185 and declared the match with the score reading 89/7. This gave India a target of 275 to win from 54 overs in what promised to be an exciting affair. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul played 2 overs with the score reading 8/0 as rains came down. Constant downpour meant that the game ended in a draw robbing fans of a chance to witness an exciting run chase. Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar while speaking to India Today was asked if Team India would have been bowled out on the final day. 

The 75-year-old replied, “No, no, I don’t think India could have been bowled out for the second time in the Test match. Our batting isn’t that pretty, not everybody has been at their best, but we would not have been bowled out in 50 overs. But you have to concede that with 445 runs on the board, Australia had the better of the Test."

Sunil Gavaskar praises heroes of 3rd Test match

After the drawn affair in Brisbane, the series heads to Melbourne for the 4th Test starting on 26th December. India are still third in the WTC table with South Africa on top and Australia second. KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and Akash Deep helped India out of the hole in both innings of the game. 

Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on the heroes of the game for helping India save the blushes. Jasprit Bumrah picked 9 wickets in the game and took his series tally to 21 wickets from 6 innings. The right-arm pacer took 6/72 in the 1st innings before taking 3/22 in the second essay. 

Speaking about India’s pacer ace, Mr. Gavaskar said, “What I really loved was the resolve shown by your 10th wicket; Jasprit Bumrah is one cricketer that every captain would want in their team, as a bowler, batter, thinker and a complete team man. And he was the one who was guiding Akash Deep as well.”

“The resolve shown by KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja will augur well for the remaining two Tests. Remember, India lost in Adelaide in two and a half days. Had they not done well here, the next Tests would also have been gone," said India’s former great.