WTC Final: ‘Indian batsmen were instrumental in their own downfall with some forgettable shots,’ says Sunil Gavaskar

WTC Final: ‘Indian batsmen were instrumental in their own downfall with some forgettable shots,’ says Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar slammed the Indian batsmen for their unremarkble show on the final day of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final.

The legendary batsman highlighted that the conditions were really suitable for batting on Day 6 of the Test match. However, the Virat Kohli-led side couldn’t capitalize on them and bundled out for a below-par total of 170 runs. Hence, they could only manage to post an easy target of 139 in front of the Blackcaps which they chased down with eight wickets in hand.

The cricketer-turned-commentator reckoned that the Indian batsmen didn’t show patience on the ultimate day of the match and got out playing “forgettable” shots.

“The conditions on the final day were bright, and the sun was out in all its glory, but the Indians, so used to the white-ball game, just didn’t show the patience required in a Test match and were instrumental in their own downfall with some forgettable shots,” Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his column for The Telegraph.

‘Kane Williamson held the New Zealand innings together’: Gavaskar

Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson

Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson led his side from the front in both innings with his performance with the bat. After missing out on a well-deserved half-century by a solitary run, Williamson played a brilliant knock of 52* to take NZ home in the second innings. 

Sunil Gavaskar commented that Williamson played the kind of knock as per the requirement of the conditions. He added the Tauranga-born restricted his shots at the early stage of his innings which was also the demand of the situation then.

“What patience and good shot selection can do in trying conditions was seen in the batting of New Zealand captain Kane Williamson in both innings. He held the New Zealand innings together and took his team home.

“What he also showed us is that the thinking that a batsman needs to go out and start playing shots on this kind of a pitch and in conditions favouring the bowler is just negative thinking. He batted the way he knows how to, and that’s what every batsman should do,” the former opener asserted.

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