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Ahead of the last Super 12 game between India and Namibia, in a press conference India’s bowling coach, Bharat Arun had emphasised on the importance of the toss factor for India’s capitulating defeat against Pakistan and New Zealand. Reacting to Arun’s statement, former India captain, Sunil Gavaskar has said that it wasn’t the toss but brilliant bowling from Pakistan and New Zealand that cost India the game.
"No, the major reason has been the splendid bowling from Pakistan and from New Zealand which didn't allow our batting to flourish. If our batting had flourished as it did against Afghanistan when they scored 200 then the dew factor doesn't come into play at all because the bowlers have a cushion of 30-40 runs already. So even if they were taken for a few extra runs with the wet ball, those 40 extra runs would make the difference. What happened against Pakistan and New Zealand was that their bowlers bowled brilliantly and they didn't allow our accomplished batsmen to get going. India just didn't have enough runs for their bowlers to defend with the wet ball," Gavaskar told Sports Today.
Moreover, Gavaskar reckoned Indian players who were burdened with the hectic bio bubble schedule could have missed the second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 to come fresh for the ongoing T20 World Cup.
"Having said that, maybe at that stage, when we talk about the workload factor, to take it easy, etc. So could some of the Indian players have not played the last few matches of the IPL? Could they have avoided playing that and kept themselves fresh for India? Well, that's something that they will be able to answer. Particularly when you know that you may not be able to qualify, should some of the players have taken a break and given themselves one week, 10 days break to freshen up and recharge their batteries," the 72-year old added.
Along with India’s former opener, veteran Indian spinner, Harbhajan Singh also criticised India’s performance in the mega event.
“Toss is an excuse, we saw how Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batted first and won by scoring 190 odds. You have to score runs and admit the fact that you didn’t play well, the players didn’t live up to the expectations. Winning a toss isn’t everything, there are plenty of teams who didn’t win the toss but yet won the match. So a strong team like India can’t give these kinds of excuses, try not to replicate these statements and play better cricket from here on,” the off-spinner concluded.
Following Afghanistan’s eight-wicket defeat against New Zealand on November 8, Men in Blue will now face Namibia in the dead rubber.
