Team is going there to play, not rest: Gavaskar SLAMS BCCI's preparation for India's tour of Australia

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has questioned the BCCI for India's lack of preparations heading into the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), to be held in Australia. The five-match Test series is set to get underway on Nov 22, in Perth, and the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team will head into the marquee series after playing just one practice game, i.e. a two-day affair at Manuka Oval, Canberra. Hence, this has left Little Master Gavaskar worried given Australia are looking to regain the BGT for the first time since 2014.

Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day, "The news that the regular match for touring teams against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI has been reduced to a 2-day game is a disappointing one. By all means, rest the seniors and let them not even travel to Canberra for the game but give the newer younger players a proper first-class game rather than a 2-day game which will be neither here nor there. After all, the team are going there to play cricket and not to take rest."

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'There's still time to change it to a 3-day game'

Gavaskar further insisted, "The Australians are thirsting for revenge and the Indians will have to be razor sharp to get a hat-trick of series wins there. There's still time to change it to a 3-day game and give the younger inexperienced players a better chance to succeed against the World Test Champions. C'mon BCCI, you can do it."

Pat Cummins-led Australia are desperate to win their first-ever BGT since 2014/15 edition, at home. Since then, Aussies have lost two away and home series each to their fierce rivals India.

Rohit-led India will have to be on their toes to make it three successive Test series win on Australian soil by winning the forthcoming BGT. However, it won't be an easy task against the reigning Test world champions.