Not talent but attitude of Indian players worries Sunil Gavaskar

Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar on Saturday said that there is no shortage of skilled and talented players in the Indian cricket team. Speaking on a day which saw India face a mammoth defeat in the Eden Test, he however said the approach and attitude of the players leaves a lot to be desired.

Indian batting collapsed like a pack of cards with only R Ashwin holding his ground to end the day with his team leading by 32 runs and with last-man Pragyan Ojha for company. Speaking to NDTV, Gavaskar said that the visitors had complete outplayed India and that he would 'love to see if the Indian players go directly to Nagpur for the final Test or take a break for a day or two.'

"I am not talking about stance and technique. I think (speaking about coach Duncan Fletcher) if you are not going to be able to have the players report three-four-five days before, then I am sure you are not able to have control over the players. I have been a former cricketer and when I see the kind of approach the players have had over the last one year, I get a little bit disappointed," he said. "Look, talent-wise this team has got everything but for that talent to flower, the approach has to be right, the attitude has to be right."

Gavaskar further elaborated by citing from the India vs West Indies series last year. "Even last year, against the West Indies, India were in a winning position on the last day. (But) The players turned up at the ground barely 30 minutes before the first ball was bowled. They might have been in the dressing room but that is the attitude that they do not want to come out and do the drills that will enhance their skill-sets."

Asked if the Indian players appear defensive in their statements after each shoddy performance, Gavaskar said that there isn't much else to speak of for them. "Well, they have got nothing to talk about their performances (and) so, naturally they are going to be defensive. When India won in Ahmedabad, everybody thought it would be a one-sided tournament. But the England batsmen worked very very hard. There were lessons to be learnt but I do not think too many Indians did that."