The Indian men’s cricket team is gearing up for a crucial five-match test series in Australia, set to begin on November 22 in Perth. However, concerns have emerged following the cancellation of a planned three-day warm-up match against India A, a decision that has drawn criticism from cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar.
While speaking to a leading publication, he stated that he firmly believes that they should have a warm-up game and they should have warm-up matches in the gaps between test matches as well. The legendary cricketer stated that warm-up matches may not be much needed for seniors but they are very much required for youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, etc. who haven’t played in Australia earlier. He added that these warm-up matches can be against Australia A or a state side team like Queensland but they should be played as it will help the Indian youngsters in adjusting with bounces and pitches in Australia.
This call for preparation follows India’s disappointing 0-3 loss in a recent home test series against New Zealand, a performance that raised questions about the team’s form. India must now secure victories in four out of their five upcoming matches against Australia to keep their hopes alive for qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final.
Reflecting on the series loss, Sunil Gavaskar said that losing a test match is understandable but losing all three test matches is certainly difficult to take. However, he added that despite that, we need to support the team as there is a big tour ahead. He further said that we can’t start criticising the team, though it is highly disappointing yet it is an open secret how well our players have played over the years, so his advice to the Indian team is that they should forget it like a bad dream and focus on Australia.
Sunil Gavaskar further stressed that while criticism is a part of the game, it’s crucial to maintain confidence and morale before a significant tour and he asked everyone to support the team.
The Indian team’s upcoming test series in Australia is pivotal not only for their WTC qualification but also for restoring faith after a series of disappointing performances. Sunil Gavaskar’s suggestion to integrate warm-up matches could be vital in helping younger players adjust to Australia’s fast, bouncy pitches and deliver a stronger performance.
