Gavaskar Delivers Harsh Verdict on India's ODI Series Defeat
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has delivered a sharp critique of India's surprising ODI series loss to New Zealand. He directly blamed the batting lineup's repeated failures to establish solid foundations at the start of innings.
India suffered a 41-run defeat in the third and final ODI match in Indore. The team failed to chase down a challenging target of 338 runs. This loss handed New Zealand their first-ever 50-over series victory on Indian soil.
Kohli's Lone Battle Highlights Support Issues
Virat Kohli fought brilliantly during the chase, scoring 124 runs from just 108 deliveries. However, he received minimal meaningful support from other batters throughout the innings. This lack of partnership building proved decisive in the disappointing outcome for the home team.
Gavaskar expressed his frustration clearly during his appearance on Amul Cricket Live on JioStar. He stated that unless Kohli received substantial support from other players, victory would always remain difficult to achieve. The batting legend emphasized that India simply did not provide enough backing for their star performer.
Poor Starts Create Impossible Pressure
The real problem throughout the entire series, according to Gavaskar, was India's inability to begin their innings strongly. He referenced the common saying that well begun is half done, highlighting how crucial good starts are in limited-overs cricket.
India consistently failed to establish solid opening partnerships during the series. This pattern placed enormous pressure on the middle-order batters, especially during steep run chases. Gavaskar pointed out that this fundamental weakness made chasing large targets nearly impossible for the Indian team.
Middle-Order Collapse Seals Defeat
The match situation deteriorated rapidly when India collapsed to 159 runs for the loss of five wickets. This dramatic batting collapse effectively handed control of the game to New Zealand. Gavaskar analyzed how losing key wickets at crucial moments made the chase unmanageable.
He specifically mentioned the dismissal of KL Rahul, who was in good form. Gavaskar also discussed Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored 53 runs but hadn't previously justified his selection. The uncertainty surrounding Harshit Rana's performance added to the mounting challenges. Gavaskar described the situation as an uphill climb that became increasingly difficult.
Learning from Kohli's Example
Gavaskar reserved special praise for Virat Kohli's temperament and adaptability during the series. He urged younger Indian batters to study Kohli's approach and learn from his example. According to Gavaskar, Kohli remains focused entirely on the job at hand rather than maintaining any particular image.
The former opener emphasized that Kohli's key quality is his temperament. He never gives up, continuing to fight until the very end of every innings. This determination and commitment to scoring runs represents what Gavaskar believes all Indian batters should emulate.
Silver Lining in Lower-Order Performance
Despite the overall disappointment, Gavaskar acknowledged Harshit Rana's spirited half-century in the lower order. He noted that Rana batted exactly as a lower-order player should, playing without excessive worry or unrealistic expectations. This performance represented one of the few positive aspects on an otherwise disappointing night for Indian cricket.
Gavaskar's analysis highlights fundamental issues in India's batting approach that need addressing. The series loss serves as a wake-up call for the team as they prepare for future international competitions.
