Legendary Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his disappointment over the Indian team’s batting approach in the recent Test series against New Zealand, which resulted in a 0-3 whitewash. Gavaskar believes that the team’s over-reliance on an “attacking mindset” is detrimental to their performance in Test cricket.
In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar pointed out that the Indian batters’ aggressive strategies have led to the exclusion of experienced players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane from the playing XI. He cited England’s poor record in overseas Tests as an example of how such an approach can backfire.
“The real issue is the thinking where again the short boundaries and big bats mean that batters, after playing three or four dot balls, think they can change the momentum by going for a big shot,” Gavaskar wrote. “It may work with the white ball, which doesn’t swing, seam, or spin as much, but with the red ball, it’s flirting with danger, especially if one has just come in to bat.”
Gavaskar emphasized that Test cricket requires patience and adaptability. He believes that Indian batters need to adjust their approach based on the conditions and the opposition.
“Test cricket requires some patience, especially on pitches where the bowlers are getting some assistance, but not many modern batters believe in that,” Gavaskar wrote. “Then there’s this new thinking that, come what may, we will play only at breakneck speed in a five-day game, and that means there is not much thought given to tiring the bowler out or waiting for conditions to improve.”
Gavaskar’s criticism highlights the ongoing debate about the balance between aggression and patience in Test cricket. While attacking play can be effective in certain situations, it is crucial for batters to adapt their approach to the specific challenges of the format.
