Cricket

Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his views on India's chances in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. While acknowledging India's recent dominance over Australia in Test cricket, Gavaskar believes that a 4-0 victory for India in Australia is unlikely.Gavaskar emphasized that India's focus should be solely on winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, rather than on qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. He stated, "Don't talk about the World Test Championship final. Now just focus on trying to win the series in Australia."Gavaskar's prediction is based on the formidable nature of the Australian team in their home conditions. He believes that India can realistically aim for a 3-1 victory, but a 4-0 sweep is an ambitious target.India has won the previous four Test series against Australia, all by a margin of 2-1. However, Gavaskar believes that Australia will be a different proposition in their own backyard.Despite Gavaskar's cautious optimism, India's recent record against Australia provides some hope. India has won two Test series in Australia in the past decade, including a historic 2-1 victory in 2018/19.The WTC scenario is also complex. While India needs four wins to guarantee qualification for the final, it is unlikely that they will need to win all. Other nations in contention for the WTC final, such as Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and New Zealand, will face each other and potentially hamper each other's results.Overall, Gavaskar's prediction reflects a realistic assessment of India's chances in Australia. While a 4-0 victory may be a stretch, India has the potential to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and continue their recent dominance over Australia in Test cricket.

The Indian cricket team's hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) have taken a significant blow following their 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand. The defeat has raised concerns about the team's preparation and confidence ahead of their defense of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Australia.Adding to the team's woes is the possibility of captain Rohit Sharma missing the opening Test of the BGT due to personal reasons. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes it is crucial to have clarity about the leadership well before the start of such an important tour."Captain should play the opening Test. It would have been different had he been injured. But if a captain is not available right in the first Test match of the series, then it would put a lot of pressure on the deputy leader and that is not easy," Gavaskar said.Gavaskar suggested that the BCCI should appoint Rohit's deputy, Jasprit Bumrah, as the captain for the entire series if Rohit's availability remains uncertain. He emphasized the need for clear communication from the chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, to Rohit."We see reports saying Rohit won't play the opening Test, and we don't know yet about his availability for the second Test. If that is true, then Agarkar should right now tell him, 'Whatever you wish to do, you can, whether you want to take rest, you can, that is a personal reason; but for this tour you can only participate as a player. You can join the Indian squad whenever you want, but for this tour, we are naming the vice-captain as the leader'," Gavaskar said.Gavaskar stressed the importance of having a clear captaincy situation, especially after the disappointing loss to New Zealand. "There should be clarity because we lost 0-3 against New Zealand, so the captain has to be there. Indian cricket is the most important thing. Had India won the New Zealand series 3-0, it would have been a different case."The Indian team will be hoping to bounce back from their recent setbacks and put up a strong performance in the BGT. However, the absence of Rohit Sharma and the uncertainty surrounding the captaincy could pose significant challenges for the team.

India's humiliating 3-0 series defeat at home against New Zealand has cast a shadow over their upcoming tour of Australia, which begins on November 22. The loss has raised concerns about the team's preparedness for the high-profile series, especially given the short turnaround time.Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has criticized India's spin-centric approach against New Zealand, arguing that it has compromised their ability to handle pace bowling. He has also questioned the decision to cancel the warm-up game ahead of the first Test in Perth.Gavaskar believes that the Australia tour will be a significant challenge for India, particularly for the younger players who are traveling Down Under for the first time. He has urged the team management to reconsider their decision and arrange some warm-up games, even if it means playing against state A teams.The Indian team has a daunting task ahead of them. To qualify for the World Test Championship Final, they must win four out of five matches in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The first Test against Australia is scheduled for November 22-26, followed by a two-day warm-up game in Canberra and the Adelaide Test. The remaining three Tests will be played in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his belief that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are currently experiencing a temporary slump in form, urging fans not to overreact. Despite their disappointing performances in the recent Test series against New Zealand, Gavaskar emphasized that both players have faced challenging batting conditions and have been unlucky at times."Even the best players go through bad patches," Gavaskar told the Indian Express. "These weren't easy pitches to bat on in all three matches. Sometimes you need a bit of luck... But when going through a bad patch, everything goes against you."Gavaskar also highlighted the importance of match practice for the Indian team, suggesting that the top batters should have participated in the Duleep Trophy prior to the New Zealand series. He noted that the New Zealand bowlers had a better understanding of the Indian pitches due to their experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL)."They should have had some practice, definitely," Gavaskar said. "It's a long gap. I know we beat Bangladesh and therefore it looked as if it's going to be a cakewalk against New Zealand. But New Zealand obviously had the better attack."Despite the recent setbacks, Gavaskar remains optimistic about the Indian team's prospects. He believes that the players will have time to prepare for the upcoming tour of Australia and will be ready to perform at their best."India's Test stars now have a few days off before they start preparations for the Australia tour," Gavaskar said. "I'm sure they will be working hard to improve their form and get ready for the challenges ahead."

Shubman Gill's Dismissal Draws Criticism from Sunil GavaskarIndian cricket prodigy Shubman Gill's dismissal on Day 3 of the third Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai has sparked criticism from legendary commentator Sunil Gavaskar. Gill, who had scored 90 runs in the first innings, was clean bowled by New Zealand's Ajaz Patel after failing to read the ball.Gavaskar, known for his astute cricketing analysis, expressed his disappointment with Gill's dismissal. "How many times have we seen Gill get out leaving the ball? To spinners, to fast bowlers... judgment of which ball to leave, which ball to play is something he will have to work on," Gavaskar said.Gill's dismissal was particularly frustrating as it came at a crucial juncture in the match. India had already lost the series, having suffered defeats in the first two matches. A victory in the Mumbai Test was essential to boost their hopes of making it to the World Test Championship final.However, the top-order batters failed to deliver, with Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Sarfaraz Khan all being dismissed for cheap scores. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja forged a fine partnership to start India's rescue act, but Jadeja was also dismissed by Patel.At the end of the first session, the onus of guiding India to victory rested on the shoulders of Pant and Washington Sundar. India's hopes of winning the match and salvaging some pride in the series now hang in the balance.

India's Spin Duo Dominates Day 1 of Mumbai Test, But Sundar's No-Balls Disappoint GavaskarThe opening day of the Mumbai Test between India and New Zealand witnessed a dominant performance from India's spin duo, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. The pair combined to claim nine wickets, bowling out the Kiwis for 235 runs.While Sundar continued his impressive form from the Pune Test, one aspect of his bowling left legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar visibly frustrated. During commentary, former India coach Ravi Shastri revealed that Gavaskar had smashed his plate in anger after witnessing Sundar repeatedly bowl no-balls."Sunil Gavaskar was having lunch. He smashed the plate on the wall," Shastri said on-air. "Thank god he's not fielding in the slip. Washington would have been close to Washington DC."No-balls are an uncommon occurrence for spinners, and Sundar's repeated overstepping drew criticism from former New Zealand cricketer Ian Smith. "Oh dear. Another no-ball. Where is Sunny G? He is going to run after them with a mic in hand," Smith quipped.Gavaskar himself joined in the banter, saying, "Yeah, don't worry. I have my running shoes on. But on a serious note, it's something that needs to be looked at.""With a fast bowler, it is understandable, that the momentum of the body can sometimes take your foot over the line. But spinners? Players keep saying that there are things that are not under our control. Well, this is one thing under control, so might as well, be cautious," he added.Despite Sundar's no-ball issue, Jadeja and Sundar's combined efforts put India in a strong position with the ball. However, the Indian batting unit once again faltered, losing four wickets before stumps, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and nightwatchman Mohammed Siraj.

Prithvi Shaw, the prodigious Indian opener, has faced a setback in his career after being dropped from the Mumbai Ranji Trophy squad due to fitness and disciplinary concerns. The exclusion has sparked a debate about the role of physical appearance in determining a player's fitness in cricket.Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has come to Shaw's defense, arguing that weight or body shape should not be the primary measure of fitness. He points to the example of Sarfaraz Khan, who despite facing scrutiny over his physique, recently scored a brilliant 150 against New Zealand.Gavaskar emphasizes that cricket fitness should be judged by a player's ability to perform on the field, such as scoring runs or bowling overs. He questions the relevance of body fat percentage, stating that it is not a reliable indicator of a player's fitness or ability.Sources indicate that Shaw has been irregular in attending training sessions and has been observed as being overweight. However, Gavaskar believes that these issues can be addressed through proper guidance and support. He urges Shaw to focus on his fitness and discipline, while also reminding him of his immense talent.The exclusion from the Ranji Trophy squad is a wake-up call for Shaw, who has been struggling to regain his form in recent times. He has been dropped from the Indian team and has faced criticism for his inconsistent performances.Shaw's exclusion has also raised questions about the culture within the Mumbai team. Some reports suggest that there may be a lack of discipline and accountability, which could be contributing to the team's poor performance in the Ranji Trophy.It remains to be seen how Shaw will respond to this setback. He has the talent and potential to be one of the best batsmen in the world, but he needs to address his fitness and discipline issues if he wants to fulfill his potential.

India's Test woes continue against New Zealand, with the visitors taking a commanding lead in the third innings of the second Test in Pune. Amidst the disappointment, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has urged the team to focus on the present series rather than the upcoming India vs Australia Test series.Gavaskar's comments came during commentary on the second day of the second Test, when fellow commentator Dinesh Karthik mentioned the Australia series. Gavaskar promptly interjected, emphasizing the importance of staying present and not getting distracted by future events."Don't talk about Australia now. That is a mistake that a lot of people often make. You've got to worry about what's happening now. Your focus should be only on what's happening at the moment. Australia will take care of itself. When you go there, you will find the methods to beat Australia. You've done that over the last couple of trips there. You found a way," Gavaskar said.Gavaskar also pointed out that the media and others outside the team are contributing to the distraction by constantly discussing the Australia series. He believes that this external noise can be detrimental to the team's performance in the current series."It's not the players. The players are focused on the game. It's the circle around which is the media and everybody else which is talking about Australia. There is so much of coverage about what is going to happen in Australia. The Australian players are all the time talking about the Indian team, what should be the team and all that. Pick him, pick that player. No body is asking us about the Australian team. All the former Australian players are telling us pick this guy, that guy. Ask us too who should be in the Australian team," Gavaskar said.Gavaskar's advice echoes the sentiments of many experts who believe that India needs to address its current challenges before looking ahead to the Australia series. The team has struggled with batting collapses and inconsistent bowling performances in the ongoing series against New Zealand, and these issues need to be resolved before they can hope to compete against a formidable Australian side.

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his disappointment over the exclusion of Kuldeep Yadav from the playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. Gavaskar criticized the move, suggesting it indicated "panic" from the team management.India entered the second Test trailing 0-1 in the three-match series, making three changes to their lineup. New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and chose to bat first at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. India dropped Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and KL Rahul. Shubman Gill returned to the side, Akash Deep replaced Siraj, and Washington Sundar was included for his first Test match since March 2021.Gavaskar commented on the team changes during the match. "I do not see a lot of teams making three changes unless there are injury concerns. Washington Sundar's inclusion tells you they are worried about their batting. More than his bowling, they need his batting down the order as the cushion," he said.Gavaskar questioned the decision to leave out Kuldeep Yadav, noting his potential effectiveness against New Zealand's left-handed batters. "Yes, there is a lot of talk about the left-handers in the New Zealand batting unit, but I would have picked Kuldeep Yadav, who can also turn it away from a left-hander," he added.With pressure on India to secure a win in Pune, Gavaskar's comments highlight the critical nature of team selection decisions as they aim to preserve their home dominance and secure a spot in the WTC final.