Sunil Gavaskar Highlights India’s Biggest Mistake After ODI Series Loss Against New Zealand, Says ‘Certain Individuals Allowed…’

India’s 2-1 series loss at home against New Zealand has raised many questions in the cricket fraternity and compelled none other than the great Sunil Gavaskar to give an honest review of it. Even after Virat Kohli’s brilliant 124 off 108 balls in the series-deciding third ODI in Indore, his 54th ODI century, India fell short by 41 runs. Gavaskar did not spare words to identify one of the main frailties in Shubman Gill’s team: lack of proactive intensity in the field.

In an elaborate post-match analysis with former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull, the former India captain emphasized that India’s nemesis lay not in their batting and bowling lapses but in fielding lapses, particularly during the middle overs. He cited the inability of the team to save easy singles, which allowed New Zealand’s middle-order pair, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, to take control of the tempo of the game. The failure to exert pressure in the field led to India’s bowlers not being able to put pressure on the settled batsmen as the opposition played with relative ease.

“I don’t want to take names, but certain individuals allowed singles to be taken very easily. Yes, Rohit Sharma was quick, and Virat Kohli, we all know what an athlete he is on the field, but I just felt the fielding could have been a lot more proactive,” Gavaskar stated

Gavaskar pointed directly towards the fielding errors that happened from the Indian side and raised concerns about the fitness and focus of the young players.