Sunil Gavaskar criticizes India's lack of strategic thinking for skipping Pink-ball Test before BGT

Former Indian legend and world cup winning team opener batsman of 1983, Sunil Gavaskar, has expressed disappointment in India for not participating in any pink ball test matches leading up to the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy. India is scheduled to play one pink ball test out of the 5 test matches in the series, and Gavaskar believes that the lack of preparation with the pink ball could hinder their performance.

India has played only two test match so far and had a mixed result, The very first pink ball test was against Sri Lanka and the second was Against Australia in Adelaide, Australia, where India bundled out for 36,  that was also India’s lowest ever test score, where Josh Hazlewood claimed 5/8 and Pat Cummins 4/21.

Sunil Gavaskar wrote for The Sydney Morning Herald

“India haven’t helped their cause by not having even one ball pink-ball test out of the five test match they played at home. May be it was overconfidence or complacency, or just an absence of cricket thinking.” He also end up criticizing team India for coming in separate batches instead showing unity and pointed out at Rohit Sharma for taking the paternity leave.

He also wrote,
“It was thus important after that disastrous loss to the Kiwis for the team to present a united front when it arrived in Australia,” he wrote. “Instead, the players came in different batches, with the captain opting to babysit at home. Add to that the cancellation of a warm-up game before the first Test at Perth doesn’t fill the most ardent supporters of Indian cricket like me with much optimism.”

However, The Indian men’s team captain Rohit Sharma has joined the Indian team in Perth ahead of the first test match. But he is more likely to play from the second test match. India is set to play pink ball day night test against Australia in the second match of Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Sunil Gavaskar has played 125 test match and scored 10122 runs that includes 34 centuries and 45 half centuries with his personnel highest score of 236 not out.