A week after the conclusion of 2023 season of the Indian Premier League, team India suffered a heartbreaking loss against Australia in the WTC 2023 Final. Following the defeat, India skipper Rohit Sharma said that the national squad would have best served if they had 20 to 25 days for preparation. Slamming Rohit Sharma for his 'lack of preparation' statement, ex-India captain Sunil Gavaskar completely dismissed the argument, saying that it’s the senior guys who avoid traveling in advance for preparations since they know there’s no threat to their spot in the team.


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“What kind of preparation are we talking about? Now they have gone to the West Indies. You have the example of the World Test Championship before you. Are you playing any matches? So, what is this talk about 20-25 days?" Gavaskar told The Indian Express.


The veteran added by saying: “The team that the West Indies is today, you can go one day before the Test match and still beat them. But that should not blind us to the fact that when you talk about preparation, be genuine about it. Go 15 days before, play two warm-up matches. The main guys can rest, but the guys in the reserve, the fringe players, might be actually challenging some of the guys who are not doing well. He does not get an opportunity to show that he is good enough."


Gavaskar also pointed out how frequently Indian players get injured, which over time has a negative impact on the team's performance despite claims that the Indian contingent is one of the fittest teams in the world.


“The truth is the main guys do not want to go early because they know that come what may, they will get selected. When you go early they will talk about the workload. You call yourself the fittest team in the world or fitter than the earlier generations, then how do you break down so soon? How do you have a workload issue when you play a 20-overs game?" he said.


Following a one-month hiatus after WTC Final loss, team India is back in action with the West Indies tour, where they now hold a 1-0 series lead after a decisive innings victory over the hosts in Dominica Test, last week.