India's Top-Order a Concern for Sunil Gavaskar

India won a match that the team was on the cusp of losing against West Indies, here on Saturday. Chasing 264, the tourists' batting imploded and it handed Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side a 48-run win. But former captain Sunil Gavaskar said he feels India's batting has scope for improvement as well and that the top-order should contribute with more runs. (Match runs | Highlights)

At Feroz Shah Kotla, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and skipper Dhoni hit fifties to propel India's innings after the hosts chose to bat first. While Kohli's return to form pleased Gavaskar, he said a bigger score could have put the team in a better position.

"With Virat Kohli out of form and for him to get so much time in the middle is a big plus. But I think it is at the top of the order that India really has to work because they haven't given the start. Either one is scoring or the other is and that is a bit iffy. If India can get off to a big start - an 80, 90 or even a 100, it makes it easy for numbers three, four and five in the batting lineup," Gavaskar told NDTV. (We didn't play to our potential: Dhoni)

On Saturday, opener Shikhar Dhawan failed  to fire and despite coming on the back of a 68  in the previous match, managed to score just one run. Gavaskar however was more concerned about the timing of Kohli and Raina's wickets. Both batsmen had put on 105 for the fourth wicket but failed to build on their fifties. "Both the batsmen - Raina and Kohli, should have gone on to even bigger scores. They got out with plenty of overs still left. That's an area of concern," he added.

While Raina scored a confident 62 off 60 before falling to Jerome Taylor, Kohli (62 off 78) followed soon after.

Gavaskar, who had earlier suggested Kohli be pushed lower down the order after India's loss in the first ODI, also praised team management's decision to make changes in the batting order in the match. (Virat Kohli roars back into form)

"I have to compliment the Indian team for not being rigid about the batting order. Having Kohli come down the order was a good move because the ball was new at that time (when the first wicket fell). You have always got to think in terms of the team. There's got to be some flexibility and I am glad to see it," Gavaskar said.