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Deep Dasgupta came down heavily on the Indian cricket team for their defensive mindset during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Ravindra Jadeja (left) and Washington Sundar. (AP Photo)
India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in 10 years as Australia won the fifth and final Test match by six wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Australia’s 3-1 series win came after victories in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. India had won the first Test at Perth and the 3rd Test at Brisbane was a rain-affected draw.
The series felt like the end of an era for India, who had overpowered Australia on their last two tours having finally found a way to win Down Under in 2018-19.
With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy safely in the cabinet, Australia now hold all the bilateral titles they play for in the longest format as well as the WTC crown they won by beating India in 2023.
The victory also means Australia booked their spot in a second straight World Test Championship final where they will take on South Africa at Lord’s in June.
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Deep Dasgupta came down heavily on the Indian cricket team for their defensive mindset during BGT 2024-25. He argued that the team combination was indicative of their defensive mindset, with the Indian think tank opting for batting coverage right down to number eight with an all-rounder, rather than going with an extra specialist batter.
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The fact that senior Indian batters did not live up to their reputations hurt the overall balance of the side.
“When you select a team, it reflects your mindset. And I felt that from the first Test match, that the Indian team went with a defensive mindset, evident from the batting-heavy combination up to No. 8, including Washington Sundar as a specialist batsman despite the limited overs he bowled,” Deep Dasgupta was quoted as saying exclusively on Star Sports.
“This approach compromised bowling depth to bolster the batting lineup. That defensive mindset was the biggest reason for the team’s struggles. A positive mindset leads to clarity, and everything else aligns naturally,” he added.
(With inputs from Agencies)
