Sunil Gavaskar, the former legendary batsman said any international side would have suffered a collapse against the quality Australian pace bowling that was on display on the 3rd day of first day-night Test between India and Australia at Adelaide.
Australian pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood picked up 9 wickets between them as India were bowled out for their lowest Test total of 36 in Adelaide with tail-ender Mohammed Shami retired hurt.
Sunil Gavaskar: It’s Unfair To Blame Indian Batsmen As Any Team Would Have Failed With Quality Of Fast Bowling On Display
Legendary Indian batsman and ex-skipper Sunil Gavaskar said it’s unfair to blame the India batsmen for the way they were dismissed during the record-breaking collapse on Saturday in the Pink ball Test. India were bowled out for their lowest Test total of 36 after none of their batsmen managed to reach double-digit figures.
Sunil Gavaskar was full of praise for the Australian pace bowlers, saying any team batting in India’s position would not have crossed 80 to 90 runs as he highlighted the quality of fast-bowling on display in the first session on Saturday which was top-notch and among the very best.
India’s fortunes changed for the worse in a single session of pathetic batting display as they went from a position of strength to hopelessness as they were bowled out for 36 after starting Day 3 on their overnight score of 9 for 1. India were in the driver’s seat after having taken a first-innings lead of 53 but things changed soon as India suffered a batting collapse.
Josh Hazlewood picked up 5 wickets for just 8 runs while Pat Cummins picked up 4/21 as the two Australia pacers came up with one of the most exhilarating spells of fast bowling. There were hardly any bad balls to see as the two pacers kept troubling the India batsmen constantly with pace, swing and bounce in a pitch that offered a lot for pacers.
Captain Virat Kohli, who heads home after 1st match’s conclusion as he was playing his final knock on this Australian Test tour, paid the price for playing away from the body against Pat Cummins, whereas senior batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were dismissed for 0. India lost 8 wickets for 27 runs on Saturday after being placed 9/1 overnight before Mohammed Shami retired hurt on 1.
Sunil Gavaskar though said it’s never good to see India registering lowest ever Test score but credited Australian pace attack for performing brilliantly.
“I mean, any team that is all-out for its lowest test score since the time it started playing cricket, that’s never good to see. But having said that. But having said that, if any other team had been facing that kind of bowling, they would have also got out, maybe be not all-out for 36, maybe 72 or 80-90 but the way Hazelwood, Cummins bowled and the earlier 3-over spell from Starc, they asked a lot of questions,” Sunil Gavaskar told Channel 7 on Saturday.
“So it’s not fair to blame the Indian batsmen for the way they got out because it was just simply superb bowling by the Australian bowlers.”
Australia won the first Test by 8 wickets and their skipper Tim Paine won Man of Match for scoring an unbeaten 73 in 1st innings which reduced India’s lead as Australia were looking to be dismissed with 150 but the team stretched the total to 191.
Tim Paine came to Australia’s rescue with the help of tail-enders Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood. Australia were 111/7 at one stage in 1st innings but added 80 more runs which probably made the much-needed difference.
Sunil Gavaskar said that it’s unfair to blame Indian batsmen alone for their manner of dismissal. Sunil Gavaskar reckoned that any team would have failed if they faced similar sort of pace bowling.
Virat Kohli Is At A Loss To Describe India’s Loss And Batting Collapse
Virat Kohli said he was disappointed that India slipped the advantage after being on top for the first two days. India posted 244 in the first innings and bowled Australia out for 191 before the big collapse.
“It’s very hard to put those feeling into words. We had a lead of 60-odd when we arrived. And then just collapsed. Played two days of good cricket to get in a position and then just lose it in an hour. Really hurts. Probably didn’t have enough intent in the batting today. It’s something that needs to be reflected and learnt from,” Kohli said.
India will be without Virat Kohli when they return for the Boxing Day Test, starting December 26 as the India skipper heads home on paternity leave. Ajinkya Rahane who led India previously in 2 Tests at home will be captain in Virat Kohli’s absence.