“Intra-Squad Is A Joke”: Sunil Gavaskar Rips Into Rohit Sharma-Led Indian Cricket Team | Cricket News

Group India’s humiliating 3-day loss within the first Take a look at towards South Africa despatched shockwaves throughout the cricketing spectrum. A number of greats of the sport and pundits questioned the workforce’s preapredness for the tour, with the legendary Sunil Gavaskar highlighting the absence of follow matches as one of many largest causes behind the consequence embarrasing consequence. Gavaskar even referred to as India’s intra-squad matches a ‘joke’ as he lambasted Rohit Sharma and the workforce administration’s determination to not play First Class follow matches earlier than the beginning of the 2-match sequence.

“The explanations are easy – you did not play any matches right here. Should you straightaway play Take a look at matches, it would not work out. Sure, you despatched the India A workforce. The India A workforce ought to really come earlier than the tour,” he mentioned on Star Sports activities.

“You should play follow matches after coming right here. Intra-squad is a joke as a result of would your quick bowlers bowl extraordinarily quick to your batters, would they bowl bouncers, as they might be scared about injuring their batters,” he mentioned.

The argument the workforce administration usually offers behind the choice to not play First Class Checks is the distinction between follow pitches and match pitches. However, Gavaskar feels follow matches are essential, espeically for younger gamers to step as much as the problem.

“So it is higher to play towards the South Africa A workforce or play two or three matches towards a county or a state. The schedule that’s made lately, the place you play solely Take a look at matches with a niche of seven days in between – take away the ‘workload’ phrase from Indian cricket’s dictionary.”

“Nothing occurs to senior cricketers. They are going to play the second, third and fourth match even when they fail. Follow matches are crucial for the younger gamers. In order for you, you possibly can ask your senior gamers to come back comfortable, they will come a day earlier than the Take a look at match, however you’ll want to organize follow matches for the younger gamers,” he mentioned.