Following India’s loss in the final Test and their failure to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar analyzed the team’s performance. He suggested that the team needs young, motivated players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Reddy.
Jaiswal scored 391 runs in five Tests, including a remarkable 161 in the second innings of the first Test in Perth, where India triumphed by 295 runs. He faced a brief slump before bouncing back with scores of 82 and 84 in the Melbourne Test.
Reddy accumulated 298 runs in nine innings across five matches. He began his Test career with useful contributions of 41 and 38 not out. He then added scores of 42 and 42 before reaching his maiden Test century in Melbourne, bolstering the lower order.
“If we talk about the macro picture, like we saw with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Yashasvi Jaiswal – they are hungry. They are hungry to earn a name for India. They are hungry to earn a name for themselves. Such players are needed. You need such players who will protect their wicket like their life. You need such players. You can play with them on stroke. But the commitment I want to see,” said Gavaskar to Star Sports.
Gavaskar emphasized the importance of player commitment. He questioned which players would participate in the Ranji Trophy matches starting January 23rd, coinciding with the T20 series against England.
“That’s why I’m interested that on January 23, in the Ranji Trophy matches, who will play? I want to see that. Because at that time, there will be T20 matches against England. But those who are not playing T20, will they play Ranji Trophy matches or not?”
Gavaskar highlighted India’s batting deficiencies throughout the series. He pointed out the scarcity of centuries and half-centuries, apart from the first Test and Reddy’s century.
“How many Indian players have scored centuries? Except for the first Test match with two centuries, there is only the century of Nitish Kumar Reddy. How many players made half-centuries?”
He stressed the importance of application and determination in Test cricket, noting their absence in the Indian team’s performance.
“You can say it is not easy to make a century, but how many players made half-centuries and tried to turn the match? It did not happen because the application that is required in Test cricket – the application and determination – was very low.”
India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss followed a 3-0 home series defeat against New Zealand. Gavaskar reflected on India’s recent struggles in Test matches and offered suggestions for improvement.
He identified technical deficiencies as a key factor in India’s repeated mistakes, referring to both the recent series and the earlier series against New Zealand in India.
“What I saw were technical deficiencies. If you have been making the same mistakes, and I am not just talking about this series—I am talking about the New Zealand series as well—what did you do against New Zealand in India? And that’s why, now, because the next cycle will start in June, we have not qualified for the World Test Championship. From now on, we should be ready for it. If we have to take tough decisions, then we will have to take them.”
He urged the team to prepare for the next World Test Championship cycle, starting in June, and advocated for tough decisions if necessary.
Gavaskar firmly stated that players should have no excuses for skipping domestic cricket. He highlighted the start of the Ranji Trophy matches on January 23rd.
“Today is January 5. On January 23, there is the next round of the Ranji Trophy. Let’s see how many players from this squad play. Let’s see how many people are available. And there should be no excuse for not being able to play.”
He added that coach Gautam Gambhir might need to make difficult choices regarding players who are unavailable for the Ranji Trophy.
“If you do not play those matches, then I say that Gautam Gambhir will have to take a few tough decisions against those who are not available for the Ranji Trophy, saying, ‘You do not have that commitment. We need commitment. You are not playing. Whatever you want to do, do it. But for Indian cricket, you cannot return to the Test squad.”
India’s next matches are three ODIs and five T20Is against England at home, scheduled from January 22nd to February 12th.
