Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has expressed disappointment over the performances of Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer during Mumbai’s defeat to Jammu and Kashmir in their Ranji Trophy group stage match at the MCA Ground in Mumbai. The batting legend questioned the duo’s intent and approach on a tricky pitch where the ball was moving.
Rohit managed scores of 3 and 28, while Iyer was dismissed for 11 and 17 across the two innings as Mumbai suffered a five-wicket loss. Gavaskar, in his column for Sportstar, was critical of the way both players approached their innings, pointing out their inability to adapt to the conditions.
Praise for Shardul Thakur and Tanush Kotian
While criticizing the top order’s lack of resilience, Gavaskar lauded Shardul Thakur and Tanush Kotian for their spirited performances. Thakur scored a fighting 119 and a fifty in the match, while Kotian contributed with a half-century in the second innings. Gavaskar highlighted their ability to combine caution with aggression, which proved effective on a challenging track.
“The dismissals of Mumbai’s Test batters once again highlighted the dangers of an overly aggressive approach in red-ball cricket,” Gavaskar wrote. “On pitches with movement, there needs to be a balance between aggression and defensive technique to counter good deliveries.”
Concerns Over Aggressive Test Batting
Gavaskar also touched on India’s recent struggles with their aggressive batting approach in Test cricket, citing their loss in the Sydney Test against Australia as an example. He criticized the lack of patience and common sense in crucial moments, suggesting that a more calculated approach could have added crucial runs to the scoreboard.
Doubts About Commitment to Domestic Cricket
The former India skipper raised questions about the motivation behind Rohit and Iyer’s participation in the Ranji Trophy match. Gavaskar speculated whether they played only to comply with the BCCI’s new directive for centrally contracted players to prioritize domestic cricket or if they genuinely had their hearts in the game.
He also expressed disappointment that their inclusion meant promising youngster Ayush Mhatre, who had been in good form with a couple of centuries and fifties, was left out of the XI. “Hopefully, Mhatre was able to spend some time with these senior players and learn from their experience,” Gavaskar added.
Eager to See Kohli and Rahul in Action
Looking ahead, Gavaskar expressed interest in the participation of other senior players, including KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, in the final round of Ranji Trophy matches beginning January 30. Both players missed the previous round due to injuries but are expected to return for the final group stage fixtures.
“It will be intriguing to see if KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Mohammed Siraj take part in the upcoming Ranji matches,” Gavaskar concluded.
This article captures Gavaskar’s concerns about the current state of Indian cricket, urging players to find a balance between aggressive and traditional batting techniques to succeed in challenging conditions.
