IND vs NZ: "We Are Very Famous For These Knee-jerk Reactions" - Sunil Gavaskar Says No Need For Wholesale Changes In The Indian Team

Although Team India’s performance in the T20 World Cup fell short of expectations, the legendary Sunil Gavaskar acknowledged that it wasn’t so poor that the players would be singled out for criticism.

Sunil Gavaskar, who has already stated that some players on the T20I team need to adjust their mindsets, said there is no need for a hasty response that calls for a brand-new team.

You Lose One Match And We Start Taking Potshots At The Team: Sunil Gavaskar

India, the only team with four victories to reach the semifinals, was thoroughly defeated by England in the elimination game. As England’s opening pair of Alex Hales and Jos Buttler put up a record-breaking opening partnership to chase down the 169-run mark in 16 overs with all 10 wickets in hand, it was declared a foregone conclusion. 

Both India’s strategy at the top of the order and their choice of fast bowlers drew harsh criticism. The Indian team lacked an express fast bowler who could have taken advantage of the bounce in Australian conditions and taken a wicket against the flow of play. 

“None of these questions would have come if we had won the match. You lose one match and we start taking potshots at the team,” Sunil Gavaskar said on India Today. 

Selection Committee Will Take The Hard Calls: Sunil Gavaskar

However, the former India captain highlighted the problems that will need to be fixed moving forward if India wants to take home the ICC trophy for the first time in more than ten years the following season. 

“I know there are issues that can be looked at, for example the workload management thing. I think we should also look at the number of members we carry. Too many talking heads can confuse players. These are things that the powers that be should be thinking but let’s not talk about wholesale changes just because we have lost.

If we had gone to the final, we would have been talking about who should be playing in the XI. We are very famous for these knee-jerk reactions and having a go at our team when we lose, don’t think it’s the right way.

I know we need to look at measures to strengthen our teams and for that if we have to take hard calls, other than you and me there is a selection committee that is appointed so they will have to take the hard calls,” Sunil Gavaskar added. 

The next limited-overs tour for India will be to New Zealand without players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul. Shikhar Dhawan will be in charge of the ODI team while Hardik Pandya will captain the team in the three-match T20I series beginning on November 18. 

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