IND vs NZ: Not having the ability to defend has all the time been India’s downside, says Sunil Gavaskar

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has stated that defending targets has all the time been Team India’s downside. The Men in Blue beat New Zealand by 12 runs to take a 1-0 lead within the three-match ODI sequence.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 19, 2023 13:07 IST

Sunil Gavaskar not having the ability to defend has all the time been India’s downside (AP)

By India Today Web Desk: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has stated that defending targets has all the time been Team India’s downside. The Men in Blue beat New Zealand by 12 runs to take a 1-0 lead within the three-match ODI sequence.

Speaking after the sport, Gavaskar stated defending targets has all the time been considered one of India’s issues, including that if India got the duty of chasing then they might have.

“I think that’s always been one of India’s problems. Not being able to defend. India is always good at chasing. If a similar situation was given to India to chase 350 then I I think the Indian batting with the depth (that they have) they would have got it,” stated Gavaskar.

He went on to say that bowling has been an space of concern for some time for Team India, insisting that that is the realm the place there shall be just a little extra churning.

“Like we saw, we have seen it earlier in the T20 format as well. India can get to 190-200 but sometimes struggles to defend that total. So, clearly bowling is the area that has been a concern for a while. That is where you find a little more churning going on,” Gavaskar added.

When New Zealand had been reeling at 131 for six after having misplaced their captain Tom Latham, not many would have thought that Rohit Sharma can be anxious in closing few overs.

In reality, fairly a couple of followers on the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium left the stands and made their means again residence, assuming that it was a stroll within the park for India, who had rode on Shubman Gill’s double hundred to publish 349 on the board within the 1st of a 3-match ODI sequence on Wednesday, January 18.

However, 31-year-old Michael Bracewell, enjoying solely his seventeenth ODI, thrilled the followers who stayed again and gave Rohit Sharma loads of moments to fret. Bracewell hit 140 in simply 78 balls, smashing 10 sixes and 12 boundaries, as he gave India a large scare within the first ODI.

Edited By:

Rounaq Sehrawat

Published On:

Jan 19, 2023