'The planning must start now' - Sunil Gavaskar wants India to plan in advance for Australia tour

India completed a historic win over South Africa as they beat them by seven wickets in the second Test of the series at Newlands, Cape Town on Thursday, January 04. The Rohit Sharma-led side lost the first game in Centurion and had their backs against the wall heading into the second Test to level the series. Notably, it has been a usual pattern for India in overseas conditions where they lose their first game and end up winning their second.

Recently, legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar also highlighted the same issue for India and suggested them to plan in advance for their next overseas tour to Australia to continue their winning momentum. Notably, India will be touring Australia in December 2024 where they’ve won their last two series.

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"The defeat in Centurion is pretty much a pattern for Indian teams touring the SENA countries, where they lose the first Test of the series and then play catch-up for the remainder of the series. The next big series overseas is exactly a year away in Australia, and if India needs to keep the winning momentum of the previous two tours there, then the planning must start now. The FTP suggests that India is playing two Tests against Bangladesh and three Tests against New Zealand at home from the end of September to early November," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.

Gavaskar stated that the first Test of the series will be played in December which gives them enough time to play a couple of first-class games before the series.

"The first Test of a five-match series in Australia will likely start in early December, so it does give the Indians time to play a couple, if not more, first-class games before the series. Rohit said after the loss in Centurion that these games are no good because the host countries put up second-rate teams, and they get to play on slow pitches. Even if that is true, isn't it better to get into a rhythm against such opposition than stay at home? Not only the batters can get some runs under their belts, but the bowlers can also go flat out and test themselves,” he added.

India have won last four bilateral series against Australia

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Notably, India and Australia will lock horns in a five-match Test series for the Border Gavaskar Trophy starting from December. The Asian giants have had an upper hand over the Aussies in the last four series having beaten them on all the occasions and will look to continue their winning streak against the World Test Champions.