New Delhi: Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has urged cricket fans to not get harsh with the Rohit Sharma-led side after its recent whitewash by the hands of New Zealand. On Sunday, India suffered another humiliating defeat by 25 runs in a low-key chase at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
This was India’s first Test series whitewash (3-0) in 91 years of their history of playing red-ball cricket. The Mumbai also only added injury to the wounds after getting drubbed in Bengaluru and Pune. This also ended India’s home domination of winning 18 Test series in a row between 2013 and November 2024.
Gavaskar, nonetheless, reminded the viewers about how the Indian team has made them proud in the past and everyone should go ease at the recent embarrassing loss.
“Occasionally, when they don’t play well and I am on air, I will say that they haven’t played well. I would also urge everybody around not to get critical about what has happened. They have done India proud over so many years,” Gavaskar told The Indian Express.
‘We can’t start criticising the team’: Sunil Gavaskar
India won two back-to-back Test series in Australia (2018-19 & 2020-21) and drew series in England in 2021-22. The Indian Test team held the No.1 spot in the ICC rankings for 42 months (October 2016-April 2020). India reached the World Test Championship (WTC) finals on back-to-back occasions.
“One can understand losing a Test match, which has happened before but all three Test matches are tough to take. But we have to back the team because we have a big tour ahead. We can’t start criticising the team. Yes, it’s very disappointing,” Gavaskar said.
“We all know how good these players have been over so many years. So what I would say to them is ‘just forget it like it was a bad dream’. Just totally focus on Australia. Go there, practice with purpose and the intent of winning a series for the third time,” he added.
India are in a tough spot with their chances for the WTC 2023-25 final looks challenging from here. India need to defeat Australia at least by a 4-0 margin to salvage for a spot in the final.
