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Sunil Gavaskar called for India’s international players to take part in the upcoming Ranji Trophy games to work on their technical flaws ahead of the new WTC cycle.
India’s senior stars were a major dissapointment in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. (Image: AFP)
Former Indian batter, Sunil Gavaskar remains interested in seeing who are the international stars that will be taking part in the Ranji Trophy games that are set to begin on January 23, later this month. This comes in light of the Indian team’s poor performance, resulting in a series defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
The former opening batter feels that there should be no reason for non-participation after seeing how the Indian batters looked well out of sorts as they crumbled against the quality of the Australian bowling attack. He also mentioned that the Head Coach would have to take some harsh calls for those who choose to not play the India’s premier first-class competition.
“On January 23, there is the next round of the Ranji Trophy. Let’s see how many players from this squad play. There should be no excuse for not being able to play,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.
He also mentioned that the Head Coach would have to take some harsh calls for those who choose to not play the India’s premier first-class competition and telling those players that they don’t have that commitment to the sport.
“If you do not play those matches, Gautam Gambhir will have to take a few tough decisions against those who are not available for the Ranji Trophy,” he commented.
“Gambhir should be saying: ‘You do not have that commitment. We need commitment. You are not playing. Whatever you want to do, do it. But for Indian cricket, you cannot return to the Test squad,” he added.
The batting legend feels that technical flaws have crept into the Indian batting unit for quite some time now and need to work on their preparation by playing in the domestic format, which would be key for the next cycle for 2025-27 in the World Test Championship.
Gavaskar questioned, “What I saw were technical deficiencies. If you have been making the same mistakes, and I am not just talking about this series—I am talking about the New Zealand series as well—what did you do against New Zealand in India?”
“And that’s why, now, because the next cycle will start in June, we have not qualified for the World Test Championship. From now on, we should be ready for it. If we have to take tough decisions, then we will have to take them,” he added.
Keeping the future of the Indian team in mind as well as the new WTC cycle, Gavaskar reckons that the team should focus more on its younger crop of players and move on from the ageing bunch. But he remains intrigued to see who is hungry enough to make their case in the first-class format as well.
“They are hungry to earn a name for India and themselves. Such players are needed. You need such players who will protect their wicket like their life. That’s why I’m interested that on January 23, in the Ranji Trophy matches, who will play? I want to see that,” he noted
“Because at that time, there will be T20 matches against England. But those who are not playing T20, will they play Ranji Trophy matches or not?” Gavaskar concluded.
(with PTI Inputs)
- Location :
Sydney, Australia
