This article explores Sunil Gavaskar on Indian Batters and his strong criticism after India’s recent struggles against spin. Following R Ashwin’s comments, Gavaskar questioned why modern players avoid Ranji Trophy and lack practice on turning pitches. His sharp observations highlight deeper issues in India’s preparation, workload culture, and declining spin-batting standards.
Sunil Gavaskar on Indian Batters: The Real Reason Behind India’s Spin Struggles
The Kolkata Test match against South Africa exposed a glaring weakness the declining ability of Indian batters to handle quality spin. Despite India’s long history of dominating spin-friendly conditions, the modern generation appears increasingly uncomfortable when facing turning pitches. Ravichandran Ashwin openly stated that Western players are currently better at playing spin than Indians, sparking a debate that soon intensified.
It was Sunil Gavaskar on Indian Batters, however, that truly ignited discussions. Gavaskar agreed with Ashwin’s concern and explained that India’s struggles stem from a deeper issue the lack of participation in domestic cricket. According to him, Indian batters today focus more on playing pace bowling overseas but fail to prepare adequately for spin challenges at home.
Gavaskar’s Strong Assessment of India’s Technical Decline
Gavaskar stressed that the root cause of India’s poor performance against spin is the players’ reluctance to play the Ranji Trophy. Domestic matches often offer slow, turning tracks where the ball grips and spins sharply. Yet many current Indian players choose to skip Ranji games unless they are out of form or compelled by necessity.
He questioned strongly: “How many of our current players actually go and play Ranji Trophy?”
His point was clear without real-time practice on such pitches, Indian batters cannot be expected to perform at the highest level when spin dominates conditions.
He further added that Western teams prepare better for Indian conditions because they train extensively on surfaces designed to turn. In contrast, Indian players rarely challenge themselves on such tracks unless it’s an international series.
Workload Management: A Convenient Excuse?
Gavaskar also criticised the modern trend of workload management. He believes it is frequently used as an excuse by players to avoid domestic cricket. For him, a professional representing India should always be match-ready and willing to participate in all formats, including the Ranji Trophy.
He argued that skipping domestic cricket leads to a lack of exposure to conditions that once made Indian batters exceptional against spin. This, he said, is now showing clearly in international matches.
Gavaskar even suggested that selectors should consider choosing players who consistently participate in Ranji games, as they are better adapted to turning tracks than those who rely solely on international cricket experience.
A Warning for the Future
The strong remarks by Sunil Gavaskar on Indian Batters serve as a warning. India’s legendary reputation for producing great players of spin may fade if modern players continue avoiding domestic cricket. As performances in spin-friendly conditions decline, India risks losing an important aspect of its identity in Test cricket.
Unless players embrace domestic cricket and prepare seriously for spin, Indian batting may continue to struggle even on home soil.
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FAQ
What did Sunil Gavaskar say about Indian batters?
He criticised them for avoiding Ranji Trophy, leading to poor preparation on spinning tracks.
Why did R Ashwin compare Indian batters with Western players?
He said Western players currently play spin better because they practice more on turning pitches.
What role does Ranji Trophy play in improving spin-batting skills?
It provides real match experience on turning pitches, which is essential for mastering spin.
Why is workload management criticised by Gavaskar?
He feels players use it as an excuse to skip domestic cricket and avoid challenging conditions.
What solution does Gavaskar suggest?
Selecting players who consistently play domestic cricket, ensuring better readiness for spin-heavy situations.