‘Indian cricket needs people who…’ - Sunil Gavaskar slams Rohit Sharma and Co. after huge loss in Adelaide

Former Indian star Sunil Gavaskar has called out the Indian cricket team after the loss to Australia on Sunday. The series is now level at 1-1 after the home team beat India by ten wickets. Rohit Sharma and his side were bowled out for 175 in the 2nd innings. Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney wasted no time in scoring the 19 runs needed to win. 

Speaking to Star Sports at the end of the game, India’s batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has asked India to take the series as a 3-match series. Both teams will now move to Brisbane for the third Test of the series which start on 14th December. After the loss on Sunday, Australia have moved to top of the WTC table while India are now third in the table. 

India’s former skipper said “Look at the remainder of the series as a three-match series. Forget it was a five-Test series. What I would like this Indian team to do is use the next couple of days for practice. It’s very important. You can’t be sitting in your hotel room or wherever you’re going because you have come here to play cricket," 

Indian legend urges team to practice harder

With the game getting over in just two days, the Indian cricket team have nearly a week to get ready for the third Test. Sunil Gavaskar has urged all the players to get in proper training regime for the next Test match. The 75-year-old has urged all the players to practice harder ahead of the upcoming game at the Gabba. 

Mr. Gavaskar said “You don’t have to practice the whole day. You can practice a session in the morning or afternoon, whichever time you choose, but do not waste these days. You would have been here playing a Test match if the Test match were to go on for five days”

Former batting legend also said “You have to get yourself that much more time to get into the rhythm because you have not got the runs. Your bowlers haven’t got the rhythm. There are others too who need time in the middle,"
According to Sunil Gavaskar, the entire team should do away with the optional practice sessions.

The 75-year-old said “This optional practice session is something that I don’t believe. The decision for optional training should rest with the captain and the coach. The coach should say, ‘Hey, you hit 150, you don’t need to come to practice. Hey, you bowled 40 overs in the match, you don’t need to come to practice.’ They should not be given the option. If you give the players that option, a lot of them, especially the certainties, will say, ‘No, I am going to stay in my room.’ And that’s not what Indian cricket needs”

The legendary batter also said “Indian cricket needs people who are dedicated to their cause. It’s an honour and privilege to be playing for India. I counted the number of days they would be here. It’s 57 days in Australia. Out of those 57, if you count out five matches, then you are left with 32 days, two matches for the PM XI. Thirty days, they were going to get off. They had one extra day off in Perth, now two in Adelaide.”

My request to them is to please come and practice. Again, Bumrah doesn’t have to practice. If Rohit and Virat don’t have to practice, that’s fine, because they are experienced players. Let the others come out and practice," Mr Gavaskar ended by saying.