Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar criticized the team’s performance following their series defeat to Australia. The six-wicket loss in the Sydney Test ended India’s 10-year reign over the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and eliminated them from the World Test Championship (WTC) Final race. With Australia and South Africa securing their spots in the summit clash, India’s campaign came to a disappointing close.
Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar reflected on his advice during the 2024 South Africa series, where he urged the team to use domestic Tests as preparation for Australia. However, the Indian batters struggled on the pace-friendly pitches Down Under, appearing underprepared. This left Gavaskar emotional as he shared his disappointment with their performance and missed opportunities.
Gavaskar Slams India’s Performance After Border-Gavaskar Trophy Defeat
“What do we know about cricket? We have no real understanding of it. We just say things for television. Who even listens to us? Honestly, there’s no point in paying attention to what we say. In fact, whatever I’ve just said, please let it go in one ear and out the other,” remarked Gavaskar.
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah expressed his frustration at missing the chance to bowl on what he called the “spiciest wicket of the series.” However, the ace Indian pacer acknowledged the importance of prioritizing his physical well-being. Bumrah was unable to bowl on day three when India faced the challenge of defending a modest 162-run target on a difficult pitch.
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Australia needed just 27 overs to chase down the target and reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a 10-year gap, capitalizing on Jasprit Bumrah’s absence. The Indian pacer was sidelined due to discomfort, leaving the team unable to defend their modest total of 162 on a challenging wicket.
Reflecting on the situation, Bumrah expressed his frustration during the post-match presentation. “It was really frustrating, but sometimes you have to listen to your body and respect its limits. You can’t fight it,” said Bumrah, who was named Player of the Series for his remarkable 32 wickets. He added, “It’s disappointing, especially because I probably missed out on the spiciest wicket of the series.”
Bumrah mentioned that he started feeling discomfort during his second spell in the first innings, which required an evaluation of his condition. On the third day, India resumed their innings at 141 for six but collapsed swiftly. They lost their remaining four wickets for just 16 runs. They were bowled out for 157, setting a target that proved insufficient against the determined Australian side.