‘Truth is the main guys do not want to go early’ – Sunil Gavaskar slams Rohit Sharma for ‘lack of preparation’ argument after WTC final loss

Rohit Sharma & Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto & Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has slammed India’s senior players for reasoning their World Test Championship final 2023 loss due to lack of preparation. Notably, captain Rohit Sharma has stated that a preparation time of 20-25 days would’ve been ideal for preparing for such a big game. The Indian team travelled to take part in the WTC final, which was just a week after the two-month-long IPL season of 2023.

Whereas, ahead of WTC final 2021, the team landed in England 15 days ahead of the final. Commenting on Rohit’s statements, Gavaskar asked what kind of preparations was the Indian captain asking about since they went to the West Indies just eight days ahead of the tour.

“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.

Gavaskar further stated that the senior players are unwilling to go to tours early as they don’t have any fear about their place in the team.

“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.

Notably, several Indian players have been suffering repeated injuries just ahead of important tournaments, which is costing the team dearly. Players such as Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are currently going through rehabilitation to make themselves ready for the ODI World Cup 2023, scheduled to take place in India from October 05.

Bumrah’s fitness still under question ahead of ODI World Cup 2023

Bumrah has been out of action since 25th September 2022, when he played his last T20I against Australia. India desperately need Bumrah back at his best, as his absence has already cost them the T20 World Cup 2022 and World Test Championship final 2023. With the World Cup scheduled to take place in India after 12 years, the fans are hoping that the Men in Blue will finally end their ten-year-long major trophy drought.