India not capable of winning overseas Test series: Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has said that India need to be content with the fact that the team can’t win matches abroad and that the fans need to prepare for another drubbing, following the one in the ongoing series against England, when they travel to Australia later this year.

Trailing 1-2, India have now lost both their openers in the second innings of the fifth and final Test, underway at The Oval, and still need 329 runs to make the home side bat, again. Having been bundled out for 148 in the first innings, the visitors watched as England’s No. 5 Joe Root piled up 149 runs off 165 deliveries to lead his side to 486 in reply.

Team can’t win overseas

Gavaskar, speaking to NDTV, said: "The Indian players don't have it in them to win regularly abroad. They might win the odd Test but because it is a five-Test series and because of the shortcomings they have, the opposition will be allowed to get back. They will keep winning at home because of the comfort factor. This is a great opportunity lost after beating England at Lord's to take the series lead."

He added: “The Indian batsmen are committing the same mistakes, getting out in the same manner. This is a team of talent; some of the players are world class. Errors do creep in, but how you get over them is important.”

Prepare for a drubbing in Australia

Further speaking on the tour Down Under, Gavaskar, one of the finest batsmen to have ever played the game, said: "I don't think you can make too many changes in this current lot. We must not go by what happens in the Test series in India. We should be mentally prepared for a drubbing in Australia. Maybe our bowlers will do well and restrict Australia, but I don't think we have the batting to take on Australia."

Australia have arguably the best bowling attack in the world, and facing them in their own backyard isn’t going to be any easier, although the conditions won’t be as testing as England. Gavaskar, who has been one of the staunchest supporters of the Indian cricket team during their troubling period all this while, surprisingly, looks resigned to defeat.