‘Don’t stay at home’: Gavaskar suggests right plan for Team India’s ‘next series’

Despite the way the Newlands pitch behaved in four sessions over two days, the Indian fast bowlers – Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar – destroyed South Africa’s dangerous batting line-up, ending the Test match in just five sessions. Done.

This is the shortest Test match in the history of cricket in which only 642 balls were played. India vs South Africa 2nd Test match broke the record of 656 balls set in 1932 when Australia defeated South Africa.

Given the poor performance of the Indian batting, including India’s performance in the Centurion Test, with the possibility that India may lose the match and the series, the great Sunil Gavaskar has urged the India captain and the team management to They organize some practice games. SENA Visit Nations.

Also read: The India vs South Africa second Test match was the shortest match in the history of Test cricket; broke many unwanted records

India are scheduled to travel to Australia for a four-Test series featuring the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in late 2024 and Gavaskar has stressed the importance of practice matches, citing a busy year in Test cricket for India in 2024 .

“The defeat in Centurion is a pattern for Indian teams touring SENA countries, where they lose the first Test of the series and then play catch-up for the remainder of the series. The next big series overseas is exactly a year away in Australia. And if India are to maintain the winning streak of the last two tours there, the planning should start now. FTP suggests India start playing two Tests against Bangladesh and three Tests against New Zealand at home from the end of September. Playing till early November,” Gavaskar wrote in his column sportstar,

“The first Test of the five-match series in Australia will probably start in early December, so that will give the Indians time to play as many, if not more, first-class matches before the series. These games will be important,” Rohit said after the loss in Centurion. are not good because the host nations field second-rate teams and have to play on slow pitches. Even if this is true, isn’t it better to get into the groove against such opposition than staying at home? No only. Only the batsmen can score some runs, but the bowlers can also move forward and test themselves.”

Gavaskar’s plan for Team India:

Since the Australia Test will tentatively start in the first or second week of December, Gavaskar says that BCCI and Team India can make the most of the practice matches before the actual Test.

“Given the good relations between the two boards, it would make sense if the Indian cricket board writes to its counterpart and asks for a match against its national champion or ‘A’ team before the first Test.” Hindustan Times Gavaskar indicated.

“Then, in the gap of a week between the second and third Tests and between the fourth and fifth Tests, there can be another game so that the reserve players get a chance to show their ability. Those who have not scored wickets or centuries earlier He will also get a chance to get his form and rhythm back for the upcoming Tests. The time to bow to what the seniors want is gone, as there have been no positive results. Now is the time to just think about the best. Indian cricket has arrived and it is not one that suits a few individuals, no matter how great they are.”

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Published: 05 January 2024, 05:19 PM IST