Sunil Gavaskar reasons out lack of preparation behind India's dismal performance

India’s campaign in the five-match Test series against England hasn’t got off to an auspicious start. Virat Kohli’s men lost the opening match at Edgbaston in Birmingham by 31 runs after having found themselves in a position of command. The bowlers strained every sinew to strangle the English batters, but their batsmen, barring the Indian skipper, flattered to deceive and capitulated alarmingly.

The ongoing encounter at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground hasn’t been a smooth ride for the visiting team either. After the first day’s play was washed out, James Anderson ripped the heart out of the Indian batting with a five-wicket haul. Subsequently, the visitors were bowled out for a paltry 107 runs in the first innings. Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar has put forth the lack of practice as a reason behind India’s poor show.

The Indian batsmen seemed frozen

Prior to the Test series, Kohli’s men played a three-day practice match against Essex at County Ground in Chelmsford and the top order was found wanting even in that encounter. The former Indian cricketer also called for the Indian batters to apply themselves in the middle with fortitude and tighten their technique in order to counter the venom churned out, especially by the English pace battery.

“The batsmen have to raise their hands and show not just grit and determination but also a semblance of technique. Their lack of red-ball practice and preparation is evident and the seaming conditions in the three innings so far haven’t helped,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for The Times of India (TOI).

“It was a test not by fire but by ice because of the overcast conditions. The Indian batsmen seemed frozen and unable to move their feet. Having said that, it wouldn’t have been easy for any other team either as England have a top-class new-ball attack,” the 69-year-old added.

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