Another batting failure in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia led to India's six-wicket defeat in the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday (January 5).
With this loss, the Indian team conceded the coveted BGT 1-3 after a decade and was also eliminated from the World Test Championship (WTC) final race.
Speaking on Star Sports, legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar weighed in on the team's performance and suggested that India need young, motivated players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Reddy.
Jaiswal amassed 391 runs in five Tests, including a remarkable 161 to script India’s historic 295-run victory at Perth. The southpaw faced a brief slump before bouncing back with scores of 82 and 84 in the Boxing Day Test at MCG.
On the other hand, Reddy finished with 298 runs in nine innings across five matches. The all-rounder began his Test career with useful contributions of 41 and 38*. He followed it up with scores of 42 and 42 before hitting his maiden Test ton in Melbourne.
“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,” Gavaskar said.
Gavaskar highlighted the importance of player commitment. He asked which players would participate in the Ranji Trophy matches starting January 23rd, clashing with the T20I 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 was critical of India's batting display throughout the series, pointing out the lack of centuries and half-centuries.
“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?”
“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.”
Before the tour of Australia, India suffered a 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand at home. Gavaskar reflected on team’s recent struggles in the longest format and offered suggestions for improvement.
“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.”
Gavaskar urged the team management to prepare for the next WTC cycle, starting in June, and called for tough decisions if necessary.
The 75-year-old firmly stated that players should have no excuses for skipping the upcoming Ranji Trophy fixtures.
“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.”
“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.”
