Former India captain and legendary batter, Sunil Gavaskar had some harsh words for Team India ahead of the West Indies Test series. The cricketer-turned-commentator lashed out at Rohit & Co. for making the same mistakes repeatedly in ICC knockout matches and said that defeating a team like West Indies wouldn't mean anything if the Indian side continues to crumble in knockout matches.
"You cannot brush this under the carpet like 'yeah we have got two matches against West Indies'. West Indies are not the best team in the world. You just go and hammer them 2-0, 3-0, whatever the matches are. This doesn't mean anything because when you come across and if you go to the finals and if you are playing Australia again, making the same mistakes, then how would you win the trophy?" Gavaskar said on Star Sports.
Team India's hopes of winning another ICC trophy came to a screeching halt after Australia thumped Rohit Sharma & Co. in the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Oval on June 11 (Sunday). India ended up losing the summit clash by a massive margin of 209 runs. As a result, the wait for another ICC title elongated further for India.
India's next assignment is against West Indies as the team will tour for a full-fledged bilateral series. India are set to play two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is on the tour of the West Indies starting July 12 post a long break after the WTC final. The first Test of the new WTC cycle will begin on July 12 at Windsor Park, Dominica. Post the West Indies Test series, India will not play a Test match till December.
Australia were the better team throughout the five days of the WTC as India fell behind the eight-ball on the opening day of the final. From thereon, India was playing catch up but their dream of a miracle win came to an end after yet another batting collapse. Rohit & Co. were comprehensively beaten as they sustained a massive 209-run defeat in the Ultimate Test.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Big News: After Kane Williamson, New Zealand's ODI Player of the Year set to miss World Cup in India with ruptured Achilles
Rohit Sharma's Test captaincy in danger? Reports reveal West Indies series may be final straw
