Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said the current Indian team members should not take their places for granted for next year's World Cup, saying the debacle against New Zealand has left the door open for veterans and talented youngsters to force their way into the squad.
Former captain Sunil Gavaskar feels opener Virender Sehwag's decision to make a departure from his 'see the ball, hit the ball' approach went a long way in helping him score his first Test century in two years in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar backed Rahul Dravid as the next Indian cricket team coach, saying if the Board of Control for Cricket in India is looking for a change, the former India captain is best suited for the job.
The sturdiness of the headgear saved Nizar's life after Gujarat's Arzan Nagwaswalla's full-blooded shot hit flush on the state emblem on his helmet in the Ranji Trophy semi-final in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Zubayr Hamza, Temba Bavuma wee beaten by sheer pace and the length
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI against Pakistan on Sunday?
The former batting ace says he has ideas for the team, but will first discuss them with the team management.
'We won't miss Virat and Rohit. I have faith in our young team.'
A player now gets approximately 2.5 lakh per match in the Ranji Trophy but the amount is no match to the millions the IPL stars earn.
Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar says if he was playing Twenty20 cricket he would have loved to bat like somebody like Rohit Sharma, because he plays classical shots, can bludgeon the ball, and is more orthodox.
While the team battles it out on the field, the duo is focused on improving their performance, with the Indian pacers, including Prasidh Krishna, providing tough challenges in the nets.
It's so hard to believe that his laughter and cheerful banter won't be there the next time I go to Delhi.
How the Indian players fared in the five-Test series in England.
'If the ground remains uncovered and the rain stops, you know it doesn't start for another one hour. Suddenly it rains again. So there's no play whatsoever.'
The match might end in a draw if inclement weather continues to play spoilsport.
'No Indian batter has hit more sixes than him against fast bowling in Tests in Australia to date, and he has played only two Tests.'
'As a young boy, I knew I had someone to look up to and try and be like him. That has never changed.'
Sunil Gavaskar feels that India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni ran 'short of ideas' but at the same time wouldn't like to be too critical of him ahead of the ICC World Cup starting in two weeks' time.
'At this stage, I want a senior cricketer to take up the captaincy and see the Indian team through this transition phase.'
Shreyas Iyer's father Santosh has a unique WhatsApp DP: his son donning the whites and holding the 2017 Border Gavaskar Trophy.
'As a captain and a player, he never played for a draw, he always wanted to win.'
Shikhar Dhawan's slump in form is primarily due to his slow footwork, says former batting icon Sunil Gavaskar, adding the Delhi left-hander's tendency to get out cheaply in consecutive matches is why his failures get highlighted.
'What is the use of talent if that player plays so many Tests and averages below 35 after a few years of being in the Indian team?'
Derek Underwood, England's best spinner in the post-World War II era, who gave a torrid time to the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, passed away at Kent on Monday. He was 78.
'They perhaps hoped to get an early wicket, but once they didn't get that, they went into a shell.'
Padmakar Shivalkar was distinctly unlucky that his best days in the 1970s coincided with that of Bishan Singh Bedi's prime.
While the classy band of Mark Taylor, Michael Clarke and Ian Healy went about their job on a routine day of cricket, they were left surprised when Hollywood's Australian and heartthrob of women the world over, Hugh Jackman dropped into the commentary box at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
India wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel's Army upbringing gives him the "fearless attitude" on the field, felt former cricketer Suresh Raina, adding that the young player had put in a lot of hard work to reach this level.
Sunil Gavaskar has come out in support of senior Indian woman cricketer Mithali Raj in the controversy surrounding her dropping from the World T20 semi-final against England, saying a player of her experience should not have been left out of the crucial match.
Legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar has criticised India's batsmen, describing them as escapist following a three wicket loss in the One-Dayer against England on Friday.
'Not every county plays county cricket in England and not every state plays shield cricket in Australia'
Sunil Gavaskar is glad that M S Dhoni has only quit limited overs captaincy and not retired as he feels the poster boy of Jharkhand still has a lot to offer to the Indian team. "If he had quit as a player, then I would have the been the first one outside his house, having a dharna asking him to make a comeback. As a player, he is still a destroyer. He can change fortunes of the game in a single over. India needs him as a player very very badly. I am happy that he has decided to stay on as a player," Gavaskar told NDTV.
'Rohit Sharma shouldn't be viewed sentimentally or emotionally.'
According to ESPNCricinfo, Shubman Gill has also confirmed his availability for Punjab's upcoming Ranji Trophy sixth-round fixture against Karnataka, set to begin on January 23.
Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar feels that the 2015 cricket World Cup beginning on February 14 in Australia and New Zealand will be "most competitive" edition ever as many teams can win the title.
Effusive in his praise for Indian team's head coach Ravi Shastri, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar on Saturday called him an "incredible" mentor with an "unbelievable" ability to motivate youngsters even in their lowest phases.
'It's 2020 and things still don't change for me. When will I stop getting dragged into cricket and stop being used to pass sweeping statements?' Anu asked.
Sunil Gavaskar has questioned the Board of Control for Cricket in India for allowing the likes of Shikhar Dhawan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni to skip domestic cricket
Dhoni, known for his strategic prowess, shrewdly engaged the umpires in discussion, while other CSK players gathered around the officials.
Legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar backed former India captain Sourav Ganguly to take over as interim president of Board of Control for Cricket in India following the sacking of Anurag Thakur from the top post by the Supreme Court.
