'Indian batsmen didn't take risks against part-time bowlers', says Sunil Gavaskar

After putting in dominating performances throughout the 2023 World Cup and winning 10 matches in a row, Team India, unfortunately, went down to Australia in the final and, thereby, crushed millions of hopes of winning the World Cup. On a sluggish wicket, the Men in Blue could only manage to score 240 runs in the first innings. Skipper, Rohit Sharma gave the team a brilliant start as India scored at a rate of more than 6 runs an over in the powerplay. 

However, once the skipper got out, the boundaries dried up. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul steadied the things but it was difficult to find boundaries. In the final 40 overs, India could only manage to score only 4 boundaries. 

Legendary cricketer, Sunil Gavaskar criticized the India batter for their timid approach. Gavaskar felt that India should have taken on part-time bowlers like Mitchell Marsh, Maxwell, and Travis Head, who bowled 10 overs combined during the innings. 

"This was the partnership that steadied the innings. But I feel they allowed the non-regular bowlers to get away with not too many runs. Travis Head bowling two overs for four runs, Mitch Marsh bowling two overs for not too many overs", Gavaskar said. 

“Those were the overs which I feel they shouldn't be taking too many risks, but not taking too many singles means those 20-30 runs should have come very handy. So we are 241 instead of suppose 265-270. There was always that fifth bowler they could target and there was no rush at that stage because the Marshs and Heads...those were the 10 overs that they should have targeted and that didn't happen,” Gavaskar added. 

Indian bowlers, though, made a brilliant start with the ball and left Australia in all sorts of trouble at 47 for 3. However, what followed was an outstanding match-winning knock from Travis Head, who blazed his way to 137 off just 120 balls. Marnus Labuschagne (58 off 110) gave an outstanding support at the other end as Australia chased down the total in just 43 overs.