Legendary Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar believes that Team India should focus on winning the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia by any scoreline instead of worrying about the WTC Final qualification. The Rohit Sharma-led side were humiliated at home as the Kiwis whitewashed India 3-0 making the WTC final qualification scenario harder.
The Indian Team will have to defy the odds and beat the Aussies 4-0 or better in the five-match series to directly qualify for the WTC Final.
I actually think that India cannot beat Australia 4-0 in Test Series- Sunil Gavaskar
Speaking to India Today after India’s series loss to New Zealand, Gavaskar shared his thoughts on India’s chances down under. He said,
“No, I don’t. I actually think that India cannot beat Australia 4-0 in the in the Test series. I’d be over the moon, if they do that. But 4-0? India can win 3-1, 4-0 is… I don’t want talk about the World Test Championship Final. Now just focus on trying to win the series in Australia. Never mind whether you win 1-0,2-0,3-0, 3-1,2-1. But go and win. Because that is how all of us Indian cricket fans are going to be back to feeling good again,”
India reached the WTC Final in both of the previous cycles but eventually lost to winners New Zealand and Australia in 2021, and 2023 respectively.
Announcing the team earlier was was an issue at all– Sunil Gavaskar
The Former Indian Skipper feels that India did not make any mistake announcing the squad for BGT in the middle of the New Zealand series. The Indian Squad for the tests in Australia was announced on Day 2 of the second test(22 October) against the Kiwis.
“I don’t think that there would have been too many changes, so I don’t think, you know, announcing the team earlier was was an issue at all. I don’t think that was it. No, I don’t think there would have been any other players from outside who have not been selected, who would have made a case for them to be included,” said Gavaskar.
“You’ve already seen Abhimanyu Easwaran was batting so well, who got 4-5 hundreds. He is in the Test team, in Australia and I think that the selection committee actually knew who from the outside were putting pressure to be in the team, and they have included them,” he added.
The first test of the mouth-watering clash will begin on November 22 in Perth. Team India are yet to lose a series against the Kangaroos since their 2014-15 tour of Australia and will be aiming to keep that streak alive.