'Main guys know they'll get selected...': Gavaskar takes an indirect dig at Rohit, Kohli ahead of WI Tests
Sunil Gavaskar takes an indirect dig at Rohit, Kohli ahead of WI Tests
India are set to kick off their campaign in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle on Wednesday (July 12) when they take on hosts West Indies in the two-match series opener in Dominica. After a loss in the WTC final last month, India have inducted some young players in the line-up, with the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, etc making it to the squad.While many were happy with India's Test squad for the Windies tour, former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar wasn't impressed.
Gavaskar feels India should have added more youngsters in the mix and could have given rest to their main players against the eighth-ranked West Indies line-up. Thus, ahead of the series opener, the Little Master has taken an indirect dig at 'main guys' captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and the likes. The Indian legend feels the Windies series was an ideal time for India to test its bench strength butsince they have persisted with their regulars, they won't gain anything significant and it will also hamper their transition process.
'The truth is the main guys do not want to go early'
Gavaskar, who turned 74on Monday (July 10), told the Indian Express, "What kind of preparation are we talking about? Now they have gone to the West Indies. You have the example of the World Test Championship before you. Are you playing any matches? So what is this talk about 20-25 days? When you talk about preparation, be genuine about it. Go 15 days before, play two warm-up matches. The main guys can rest, but the fringe players might be actually challenging those who are not doing well. He does not get an opportunity to show that he is good enough."
He added, "The truth is the main guys do not want to go early. Because they know that come what may, they will get selected. And when you go early, they will talk about the workload. You call yourself the fittest team in the world or fitter than the early generations then how do you break down so soon? How do you have a workload issue when you play a 20-over game?"
)
The Verdict: Peace for Iran, pressure on Afghanistan: Pakistan’s contradictory diplomacy
)
Happy Krishna Janmashtami 2026 wishes: 30+ messages, quotes, greetings, and WhatsApp status ideas to share
)
‘I wouldn’t call it a war,’ says JD Vance on ongoing conflict with Iran
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why US tanks weigh over 20 tons more than Russian tanks
)
Breaking | Vance takes the podium: First White House briefing since Leavitt's exit
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why US tanks can spin their heavy turrets much faster than Russian tanks
)
Iran attacks US bases in Kuwait & UAE, supersecret missile project in focus | Gravitas
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian fighter jets use bulky, low-pressure tyres compared to US jets
)
ISRO stages comeback with GSLV-F17/EOS-05 success; targets six more launches
)
Netherlands shifts 86 tonnes of gold reserve to UK citing geopolitical risks
)
China detains 52 Singaporeans over alleged pyramid schemes; Beijing denies arrest
)
Nobel laureate Machado says Venezuela’s ‘illegitimate’ regime has no right to strike US oil deal
)
Volkswagen to cut 50,000 more jobs, 100,000 roles to be eliminated by 2030
)
Lollapalooza India 2027: From Olivia Dean to KATSEYE, check full lineup, dates and tickets
)
Husband uses secret camera to record wife’s affair, wins divorce case, ends up in jail for spying
)
Kenya vs Tata Chemicals: Why President William Ruto ordered company to stop operations
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (September 4, 2026): GDN, Dhamaal 4, Jagamae Sangeetham- Watch 6 new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Suvendu Adhikari threatens to cut school aid over refusal to sing full Vande Mataram
)
Who is Aditi Paudel? 17-year-old becomes Japan's first literacy ambassador
)
Indian agencies uncover hawala, shell firms and fake trade used to hide illicit money, FATF says
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Krishna Janmashtami 2026: From Dhaniya Panjiri to Makhana Kheer- 5 best sweet dishes perfect for celebrating Lord Krishna’s birth
)
Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy creates history with 350 not out in South Africa
)
At least 2 killed in Minneapolis shooting, suspect also dead
)
South Korea plans for military deployment in Strait of Hormuz amid US pressure
)
Inside Iran's shadow fleet: How Tehran dodges the US blockade at sea
)
Killing the Himalayas slowly: Human urine is melting a glacier on Mount Everest
)
NATO troops gather in Arctic, Russia threatens nuclear retaliation
)
Iran's army conducts drone & missile attack on US bases
)
Man pushes Russian humanoid robot. Watch what happens next
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How fast can the Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet really fly?
)
US Open 2026: Auger-Aliassime out but Swiatek, Osaka, and Gauff advance into third round
)
Nigerian Navy discovers 99,000 litres of suspected stolen, illegally refined products as it intensifies anti-crude oil theft operations
)
Manipur violence: 25 houses torched in Manipur’s Kangpokpi a day after 10 homes were burnt along Imphal-Tamenglong road
India's tour of West Indies comprises two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is. Rohit and Kohli will be part of the ODI squad as well but the duo will continue to remain out of the T20I squad for the Windies tour as well.
WATCH WION LIVE HERE
You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.