Former captain Sunil
Gavaskar delivered a scathing assessment of the Indian team's fielding,
labelling it "not Test class," following a demoralizing 5-wicket
defeat to England in the first Test at Hyderabad. The loss marked a tough
initiation for stand-in skipper Shubman Gill.
Despite a
strong batting performance that saw five
different Indian players score centuries in the match, the
hosts were outplayed on the final day. England, set a challenging target of
371, chased it down with remarkable ease, largely thanks to a sensational 149
off just 170 balls from opener Ben Duckett.
Where
India Faltered:
1.
Fielding Fiasco: Multiple dropped catches and sloppy outfielding proved
costly. Gavaskar, commentating for Sony Sports, pulled no punches: "As far
as the fielding was concerned, it's just not the catch but the out-fielding was
pretty ordinary. Not
Test class." These errors gave England crucial lifelines
throughout their chase.
2.
Bowling Depth Exposed: While Jasprit Bumrah bowled
impressively (4/91 in the 2nd innings), he lacked consistent support. England's
aggressive "Bazball" approach put the Indian attack under relentless
pressure, particularly on Day 4 where Duckett and Zak Crawley (65) raced to an opening
stand of 188.
3.
Lower Order Collapse: India's second innings folded
quickly from a relatively strong position, failing to build a truly
insurmountable lead. The final 5 wickets added only 78 runs.
England's
Dominant Chase:
Chasing
371 on a turning track was a daunting task, but England made it look routine.
Duckett's innings was the cornerstone – a blend of audacious strokeplay,
including a memorable reverse-swept six off Ravindra Jadeja, and calculated
aggression. He was ably supported by Crawley, and later by Joe Root (53) and
debutant wicketkeeper Jamie Smith (44*), who fittingly hit the winning runs.
Gavaskar's
Prescription: Ditch "Optional" Practice
Beyond
criticizing the fielding, Gavaskar emphasized the need for intense preparation
before the second Test in Visakhapatnam, starting February 2nd. He urged
players to move beyond "optional" practice sessions.
"Next
couple of days you can take off, but now seriously get into practice. Leave this optional practice aside.
You have come here to play for India. So, you practice in a way so that you
will give yourself the best," Gavaskar stated.
He
referenced past instances, mentioning Cheteshwar Pujara, where players opting
for extra net sessions were sometimes questioned by coaching staff: "I
know when he has opted to bat there have been people who have said, 'What are
you doing?'... they have said, 'Can't you have a break or something?'"
Gavaskar implied this attitude needed to change.
While
Gavaskar acknowledged the batting-friendly pitch made bowling tough and
credited England's confidence, the message was clear: India's fielding
standards and overall intensity were unacceptable for Test cricket. The defeat
hands England a vital 1-0 lead in the five-match series. For Captain Gill and
his team, Gavaskar's blunt "reality check" serves as a stark reminder
of the improvements needed, starting with rigorous practice and a significant
uplift in fielding performance, to bounce back.
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