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Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has urged the need for a ‘post-mortem’ of the India Test team following the whitewash against South Africa.
A day earlier, South Africa handed India a 408-run thrashing, a record Test defeat for them, to clinch the series 2-0.
It was India’s fifth defeat in their last seven home Test matches, dating back a little over a year to New Zealand’s 3-0 series victory.
“You need to do a thorough post-mortem as to areas that you need to strengthen at the Test level,” Gavaskar said. “Bring in an outside perspective.”
He stressed the need for a discussion with former greats of Indian cricket to devise a strategy for the upcoming years.
“Take Ravi Shastri, Rahul Dravid — your two earlier coaches. Take Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly, and Sachin Tendulkar. Sit with them and formulate for the next five years what Indian cricket should be doing,” he said.
The 76-year-old backed Gautam Gambhir, who is under severe scrutiny after India’s dismal show. Gavaskar said that Gambhir also deserves credit for bringing several laurels in recent times, if he is to be put in the spotlight for recent losses.
“He’s a coach,” said Gavaskar. “The coach can prepare a team. But it’s out there in the middle that the players have to deliver,” Gavaskar said on Gambhir.
“If you’re not prepared to give him credit for the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup win, then please tell me why you want to blame him for the team out there on that 22-yard strip not doing well,” Gavaskar continued.
For the unversed, India’s batting flopped in the series, with their first innings total of 201 in Guwahati, their best against an inspired South Africa spin attack led by Simon Harmer.
The hosts lost the opening Test inside three days in Kolkata and in the second match mustered only 140, chasing a mammoth 549 target on day five.
