According to Sunil Gavaskar, India’s victory against England in the Test series is evidence that a team can succeed without star players. In the end, Sunil Gavaskar said, cricket is a team sport, and he brought up Team India’s victory in Australia during the 2020–21 tour-a tour that also saw the absence of several key players.
In the first three test matches of the five-match series, India has an unassailable 3-1 lead against England. Without players like Mohammed Shami and Virat Kohli, the outcome would not have been possible. Shreyas Iyer was dropped after two games, while KL Rahul played in just one Test.
In the Test series against England, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep, and Rajat Patidar are making their debuts for Team India due to the absence of several regulars. With the exception of Patidar, each individual in the series has made an impression.
You don’t need big names- Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar said in an interview with Sports Tak that India’s outstanding home performance against England served as further evidence of the value of cricket as a team sport.
“Three years back, India missed a lot of big names in Australia but they still managed to pull off a fantastic win not just in Gabba. After getting all out in Adelaide for 36 they won in Melbourne and drew in Sydney. They battled hard to save the Sydney Test match,”
“If Rishabh Pant stayed on the crease for half an hour then India could have won that match as well. But the heart and application the young Indian players showed during that Australia tour was visible even this time around against England,” Gavaskar said.
In his first Test match in Rajkot, Sarfaraz amassed half-centuries in both innings, and Jurel won Player of the Match for his 90 and 39* in Ranchi. With Jasprit Bumrah rested, pacer Akash Deep made his Test debut in Ranchi and took three early wickets in England’s first innings.
“That’s why I always say, you don’t need big names… If any big name thinks that India won’t win without him these two series have shown that whether you are there or not. … Cricket is a team sport. It doesn’t depend on one individual,” Sunil Gavaskar continued.
If we have players with big hearts then we can win- Sunil Gavaskar
The former captain of India complimented the young players for raising their hands, but he also said that head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma should be commended for managing a young team.
“Credit must go to the way captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid have managed the team. They gave chances to the young players, molded them and encouraged them to play their natural game,”
“This shows that whether we have big names or not, if we have players with big hearts then we can win,” he concluded.