Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has spoken on the batting struggles faced by stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the recently concluded three-match Test series against New Zealand, which India lost 0-3. Gavaskar stressed on the fact that even the best players encounter challenging periods. Gavaskar’s remarks come amid a series of underwhelming performances from both cricketers, stirring concern ahead of the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. In the third Test against New Zealand, which India lost by 25 runs, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could only manage to score (11) and (1) respectively.
"Even the best of players go through bad patches. These weren't easy pitches to bat on in all three matches. Except, perhaps, the second innings in Bengaluru. Sometimes you need a bit of luck… like you make the first mistake and the ball goes only near the stump. Somebody drops a catch, a close LBW goes in your favour. All these things can happen. But when going through a bad patch, everything goes against you. Somebody takes a brilliant catch, you get a great delivery. I won't read too much into it," Gavaskar told the Indian Express.
Gavaskar also suggested that top Indian players should have had some match practice before heading into the series against New Zealand.
"They should have had some practice, definitely. It's a long gap. I know we beat Bangladesh and therefore it looked as if it's going to be a cakewalk against New Zealand. But New Zealand obviously had the better attack. And players who play in India, in the IPL, have a sense of what Indian pitches do. Almost half the New Zealand side played here during various stages of the IPL. So, they have an idea of what the pitches do," he said.