Cricket News : Gavaskar lashes out at Indian team management for this mistake

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar lashed out at the Indian team management saying there should have been more practice matches before the start of the Test series in England. India lost the first match of the five-match Test series by 31 runs, with all of their batsmen failing to score runs except skipper Virat Kohli. Gavaskar raised objections to the team management's decision to reduce the proposed four-day match against Essex to three days and playing just one practice game in the 14-day gap between the third One Day International on July 17 and the first Test. Gavaskar said: “Why have you gone to England - to play cricket or something else? I agree, they have practised for long hours in those days, but like I said, you cannot get by with just practice. You have to play matches too." Gavaskar also pointed out that arriving in England early did not help the team's cause as they had been playing white-ball cricket largely. He said,"They didn't learn anything from the South Africa experience. They didn't have much time there, but they did have a two-day practice match which they also cancelled." Gavaskar opined that India should have played an extra batsman in the first Test and analysing India's batsmen , he said only Kohli made the mental adjustment needed to play the 5-day match and blasted the way Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane gave away their wickets.