BGT 2024: 'To be fair...', Here is what Sunil Gavaskar says on cancelling warm-up matches!
Xtra Time Web Desk: Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar criticized the decision of cancelling warm-up games ahead of Perth Test starting from November 22. He said that India should not have cancelled their warm-up match against India A considering how their batters performed in the Test series that led to losing against New Zealand.
Not playing any warm up means India will directly play Perth Test. Although before the Adelaide Test which is a Day-Night affair, India is scheduled to play against Australian Prime Minister’s XI in a practice game at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.
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Gavaskar penned down his thoughts for Mid-Day, “For Indian cricket’s sake (I hope) whoever has taken the call to do away with the warm-up game and then reduce the match between the first and second Test against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI to two days will be proven right."
He further added, "To be fair, the Indians did score over 400 in the second innings (of the first Test) in Bangalore, but after that, in four innings, they looked utterly clueless against a spin attack that by no stretch of imagination was so dangerous that India couldn’t chase 150 in the fourth innings. Yes, there was turn on offer, but again, the pitches were not impossible to play on."
He also wrote, "That is why the cancellation of the team’s warm-up game in Perth against the India ‘A’ team beggars belief. There is no better feeling for a batter to spend time out in the centre and feel the ball hit the middle of the bat. No amount of net practice is ever going to replace that feeling of flow and bat speed that one gets even after a short stay at the crease."
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While the Indian camp might have its reasons for opting out of the warm-up matches, the decision has raised eyebrows among cricketing experts. The true impact of this choice will unfold as the series progresses. Gavaskar’s concerns echo the sentiments of many who believe that proper match preparation is key, especially in foreign conditions. The upcoming clash in Perth could serve as a litmus test for this strategic move, potentially setting the tone for the rest of the series.
