Former Indian legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar feels the Team India batsman didn’t show the patience which is required in a Test match.
The Virat Kohli-led disappointed with the bat as they scored 217 and 170 runs in each of the innings. The WTC Final turned on its head in the opening session of reserve day when India lost early wickets of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara.
India lost three wickets in the first session of Day 6 and could only add 66 runs. Subsequently, they lost five wickets in the second session on the final day and were skittled out for a meager score of 170 runs in the second dig.
In fact, the sun was out on the sixth day of the Test match and the conditions were suitable for batting. However, the Indian batsman didn’t show the patience and resistance which was needed in the big match. Furthermore, the Indian lower middle order didn’t show the stomach for a fight.
Rishabh Pant was taking risks on every second ball whereas Ravichandran Ashwin also adopted an aggressive approach. Pant was dismissed while playing a big shot, which was not the need of the hour. Moreover, Indian fast bowlers were dismissed in a jiffy.
“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.” wrote Sunil Gavaskar for Telegraph.
On the other hand, Gavaskar heaped praise on New Zealand captain Kane Williamson for showing patience in the WTC final. Williamson scored 49 runs off 177 balls in the first innings whereas he scored an unbeaten knock of 52 runs to help his team chase down the target of 139 runs and led New Zealand to glorious win.
“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 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.” Gavaskar wrote.
