India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has put his weight behind Washington Sundar after Team India’s series defeat against South Africa. The Proteas outplayed India by 408 runs in the second Test at Guwahati and thus registered a 2-0 series win.
Gambhir said Sundar doesn’t have a lot of experience at the Test level and wants the naysayers to give him more time. While Sundar blossomed with the bat, returning with scores of 29, 31, 48, and 16, he could not deliver with the ball.
He was given a solitary over in the opening Test match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata when India played with four spinners. Sundar picked one wicket in two Test matches at an average of 128. The off-spinner has bagged 36 wickets in 17 Test matches so far.
Gautam Gambhir said in the post-match press conference, “If we expect Washi to deliver straightaway what Ashwin did after playing more than 100 Test matches, it is unfair on that young kid. That is what you guys need to think about as well. The kid is what? 10-15 Test matches old? He is learning his trade, he is learning to bowl in different conditions, he is learning to bowl in different situations as well.”
Gambhir said players with better character and mentality have more chances to succeed in Test cricket.
“You don’t need the most skillful and the most flamboyant players to succeed in Test cricket. You need the toughest characters with limited skills who will go on to succeed irrespective of the conditions, or what the situation is,” he added.
The former Indian opener also lamented the lack of preparation due to hectic scheduling of the team. Gambhir highlighted that they were in Australia three days prior to the Test series against the Proteas.
“Obviously, scheduling does make a difference. Imagine, three days before the start of the first Test, we were in Australia. Suddenly, you have to come from there and you have two days to plan with the Test side. That, again, is not an excuse. We can have more gaps in the middle so that we can work on certain skillsets,” Gambhir on the intense scheduling in international cricket.
India will next play three ODIs against South Africa.
