India’s record-breaking victory over Afghanistan in the one-off Test at New Chandigarh was a statement performance but cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar believes the conversation surrounding the team needs to change.
After India secured the biggest innings win in its Test history, powered in part by debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar’s impressive seven-wicket match haul, attention naturally turned to the team’s progress and future direction. However, Sunil Gavaskar feels it is time to move beyond describing the Indian Test side as a team “in transition” and instead judge it by the standards expected at the highest level of red-ball cricket.
Speaking after the dominant victory, the former India captain emphasised that changes in personnel are a natural part of international cricket. Every team experiences retirements, fresh arrivals and periods of evolution but according to Gavaskar, such factors should not become the primary lens through which performances are viewed. The focus, he argued, must remain firmly on delivering results and maintaining high standards.
While India’s bowling unit has consistently performed well in recent Test matches, Gavaskar identified batting as the area that requires greater attention. He suggested that the bowlers have largely fulfilled their responsibilities, whereas the batting group needs to display stronger technique, improved discipline and better decision-making when faced with challenging situations.
The legendary batter also warned against allowing habits from the shortest format of the game to influence performances in Test cricket. In his view, players can sometimes become impatient after a few quiet overs, leading to unnecessary risks and poor shot selection. He stressed that Test cricket demands a completely different mindset, one built on patience, concentration and the ability to construct long innings over extended periods.
Looking ahead, Sunil Gavaskar believes India’s priority should be refining its batting approach rather than dwelling on narratives surrounding transition. He called for greater focus on building substantial partnerships, improving processes and concentrating on present performances rather than constantly framing results within the context of change.
The discussion comes at an important time for the Indian Test side, particularly following the retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin and the decision to rest Ravindra Jadeja. These developments could increase the responsibility on spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar, who is expected to play a larger role alongside Kuldeep Yadav in India’s bowling setup.
Despite the changes, Washington Sundar echoed the belief that India remains committed to maintaining elite standards across formats, reinforcing the message that expectations should remain high regardless of personnel shifts.
