Sunil Gavaskar slams BCCI for lack of preparation for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for inadequate preparation ahead of the Test series against Australia. Sunil Gavaskar expressed disappointment over the reduction of the traditional match against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI to just two days.

The Indian cricket team successfully defeated the Australian team in their last two tours of the country. They won the 2018-19 and 2020-21 series in Australia by a 2-1 margin. The Men in Blue will be hoping for another series victory during the upcoming five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25.

Team India will play a day-night Test in Adelaide from December 6 to 10 during their tour of Australia. The visiting team will also have a two-day warm-up game between the first and second Tests. This day-night warm-up match against the Prime Minister's XI will take place in Canberra, starting on November 30.

Let Them Not Even Travel To Canberra For The Game - Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar urged that senior players be rested, and the younger squad members would benefit more from a full-fledged first-class game. Gavaskar emphasized that the team is going to Australia to play cricket, not just to rest.

"The news that the regular match for touring teams against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI has been reduced to a 2-day game is a disappointing one. By all means, rest the seniors and let them not even travel to Canberra for the game but give the newer younger players a proper first-class game rather than a 2-day game which will be neither here nor there. After all, the team are going there to play cricket and not to take rest," Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-day.

Australia will aim to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2017. India will play the first Test match in Perth (November 22-26). Adelaide will host the day-night Test match in the series. The Indian team will play the remaining three Test matches in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.

Australians Are Thirsting For Revenge - Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar urged the BCCI to extend the practice game against the Prime Minister’s XI to three days. The cricketer-turned-commentator added that this would benefit inexperienced Indian players, helping them prepare better for the challenging series against Australia.

"The Australians are thirsting for revenge and the Indians will have to be razor sharp to get a hat-trick of series wins there. There's still time to change it to a 3-day game and give the younger inexperienced players a better chance to succeed against the World Test Champions. C'mon BCCI, you can do it," Gavaskar insisted.

India A will play four-day matches against Australia A. The first match will be played at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay from October 31 to November 1, and the second at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Indian Test team will also face India A in an intra-squad match in Perth from November 15 to 17.

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