India kicks off their ICC T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan on Sunday and the team had an optional practice session prior to the match. Indian captain Rohit Sharma and pacer Mohammed Shami were among those who came out to practice. India had won its first warm-up match against Australia on October 17, but their second warm-up match against New Zealand was washed out.
Speaking to India Today, former India captain and agile Sunil Gavaskar said he disagreed with the decision to hold an optional practice session for the team ahead of the game in Pakistan.
“I don’t know what it tells you, but it’s something I don’t agree with. I don’t agree for the simple reason that at the beginning of the tournament, when you had your match (warm-up match ) washed out, if you came to Melbourne and had a day off, and the next day you choose not to practice?” said Gavaskar.
“In the end, those who didn’t come to training may turn out to be match winners. But you want to get a rhythm going as a team. You want to see a sense of purpose.
“Giving an option is something that I think only the captain and coach should do. Suppose if you scored a hundred in the last game and you have a small problem, the captain and coach can give you the option not to practice and say ‘if you don’t want to come and train, it’s fine.’ The same goes for a bowler, who may have bowled 20-30 overs and feels a sore shoulder or something, then the captain and coach can give that bowler the option to not to train.
“Giving the option to the players is a no-no. That option should never be. Only the captain and the coach should make that decision. How many times Indian cricket has influenced it is unbelievable.”
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“At the start of the tournament? In the middle of the tournament you’re doing great, you’ve done really well, you give everyone a break. You go to a movie, go everywhere to take their mind off cricket But at the start of the tournament, optional training?
“Maybe they all show up on the eve of the game (for training). But it’s not. I want to show that solidarity of purpose ‘Look, we want to win. Tomorrow, if it rains, what will happen? Your training is gone,” Gavaskar added.
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