Sunil Gavaskar said that lack of partnerships cost India the final ODI against Australia.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said that Team India shouldn’t forget the ODI series defeat against Australia while playing in the upcoming IPL 2023, as it can cost them in the ODI World Cup 2023.
On Wednesday, March 22, Team India suffered a 21-run defeat in the three-match ODI series decider following their humiliating 10-wicket defeat in the second ODI to lose the home series to Australia by a 1-2 margin. India had won the first ODI by five wickets after clinching the Test series 2-1.
Speaking about the final ODI in Chennai, where the Men in Blue failed to build up partnerships and were bowled out for just 248 runs while chasing 270 runs for a win against Australia, Gavaskar said that Australia's exceptional fielding created enough pressure to force the Indian batters to play rash shots.
Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports: “It was the pressure created. They were not getting singles. The boundaries had dried up and they weren't even getting singles. When that happens then you try and play something that you are not used to. That is something they will have to look at.”
He added, “But of course, now the IPL starts. This shouldn't be forgotten. India sometimes makes the mistake of forgetting this, but this one shouldn't be because in the World Cup, we may face Australia again.”
Meanwhile, Gavaskar pointed out that there was not any big partnership apart from the 69-run stand between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul and the 65-run opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, and that was a big reason for their defeat against Australia in Chennai.
The legendary batter noted, “When you are chasing a score of 270 or nearly 300, you need a partnership of about 90 or 100 and that will take you close. But that didn't happen. Yes, there were a couple of partnerships, one between Rahul and Kohli, but then you wanted another similar or bigger stand.”
Gavaskar signed off by saying, “Fielding from Australia was outstanding. Their bowling was very good. It was tight, stump to stump, but their fielding was very good. That was the difference.”