Legendary Sunil Gavaskar wants the Indian selectors to pick not more than 16 players for the upcoming England tour. Gavaskar said the Indian Test cap shouldn’t be given just like that and the team should prepare for the series in the best possible manner.
Recently, India suffered a 1-3 series loss against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar trophy. While India gave chances to rookie players – Harshit Rana (debutant), Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel in the opening Test, Nitish Kumar Reddy played all five Test matches after making his debut in Perth.
In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar wrote, “Carrying more than 16 players will indicate the selectors are unsure, and that’s never a good sign. Just because the BCCI can afford to send a large party doesn’t mean the India cap should be given just like that. The usual problem overseas is a lack of practice bowlers, so by all means take a few bowlers over, and they can be given the training and clothing, but not the India cap.”
The former Indian opener urged the team management to utilize the gap between the Test matches to play practice matches in English conditions.
“There will be some gaps between the Test matches, and these need to be utilised for practice games. Travel in England is by road almost every time, and the India team will drive down to the next Test venue on the last evening of the previous Test match. Since there won’t be a travel day involved, giving the next day off after the Test is understandable, but the next couple should be used for practice,” said Gavaskar.
The former Indian captain feels the team should get rid of optional training and must give their best to yield a positive result.
“This recent tradition of optional practice should be done away with, and only the coach and captain should decide who gets days off from practice, and this should not be left to the individual player to decide. Indian cricket has depth, or so we are told, and hopefully, that will be seen in England, where a new India can show they are ready to take on the world.”
The opening Test between England and India will be played at Headingley, Leeds from 20 June onwards.
