New Delhi: Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar believes that the Indian cricket team need to better their fielding to save runs if they are to win the T20I World Cup, next year in Australia. Virat Kohli's men dropped a few catches and conceded quite a few runs due to their poor fielding in the second T20I against Windies.
"I think fielding is the most important thing. You save runs, you put pressure on the opposition," Gavaskar told IANS.
"The Indian team has been doing really well. But I think the more they do in the fielding department, take catches and save more runs, the easier it will become for them," he said.
Post 8-wicket defeat against the visitors in second T20I, captain Kohli even lashed out at his players and said: "If we field so poorly, no amount of runs will be enough. We were poor with the field in the last two games. We dropped two catches in one over."
Gavaskar also opined that most of the teams around the world face problems when it comes to defending totals in T20 format.
"In T20 cricket, it's not just India but there are other teams as well who are not good at defending the totals. In the first T20I, even West Indies couldn't defend a total which was in excess of 200. So, it's not just a situation with India, it's generally with most other teams as well. They find it difficult to defend," said Gavaskar.
"As matches are played in the evening, the dew factor also plays a huge role. The bowlers are not able to bowl properly with the wet ball.
"Even the fielders find it difficult to field as they don't get a good grip on the ball when they are fielding in the deep and are throwing. So, fielding wise also, it's difficult and that's why I think, teams find it difficult when it comes to defending the totals in T20s," he added.
India will be playing three T20Is against Sri Lanka beginning January 5 in Guwahati.