Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has questioned the Indian team’s choice to cancel a warm-up match in Australia before their first Test in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Originally, India was set to face an India A team at the WACA to prepare for the first Test on November 22 at Perth Stadium. However, captain Rohit Sharma announced that the team would instead engage in match simulations in the nets. Gavaskar expressed disbelief at this decision, especially given India’s recent struggles in Test cricket.
India’s preparation plans have been affected not only by the canceled warm-up against India A but also by the reduction of a subsequent match against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI to a two-day fixture. This decision has raised concerns, especially after India’s recent unexpected 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand, which jeopardized their World Test Championship aspirations.
Writing in his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar said, “For the sake of Indian cricket, I hope those responsible for skipping these warm-up matches have made the right choice.” He stressed that a practice match would have been beneficial, particularly for the batters, who struggled in home conditions against New Zealand’s spin attack, which was far from the most challenging India has faced.
Gavaskar highlighted that no amount of net practice can replicate the feeling of spending time in the middle during an actual match, where batters experience the rhythm and flow necessary to build confidence. “For a batter, nothing compares to the feeling of hitting the ball in the middle of the bat in a proper game. That experience cannot be matched by nets alone,” he stated.
He also argued that a practice game offers more realistic preparation. Unlike in the nets, players face the genuine risk of getting out, which builds the mental fortitude needed in a real match. Gavaskar noted, “In the nets, players may be dismissed multiple times and keep batting, which lacks the pressure and focus required in a game.”
For the bowlers, Gavaskar emphasized the importance of maintaining rhythm, working on line and length, and becoming comfortable with avoiding overstepping in game-like scenarios, something he feels nets cannot fully replicate.
With India aiming for a strong showing in Australia, Gavaskar’s appeal reflects his hope that the team reconsiders the importance of match practice, setting aside net sessions to ensure they’re fully prepared for the challenging series ahead.
