Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar expressed his thoughts candidly, urging the Indian players to make the most of the extended break following their defeat in Adelaide by concentrating on their shortcomings, rather than indulging in leisure activities in the city. On Sunday, Australia secured a commanding 10-wicket victory over India in the second Test, thereby leveling the five-match series at 1-1 with a performance that concluded the match in just two and a half days. India commenced Day 3 at 128/5 but was dismissed for 175 in their second innings. Nitish Kumar Reddy's brief yet commendable innings of 42 was notable, as he attempted to counterattack with an aggressive style, but it ultimately fell short of averting a significant loss.

Australia required only 19 runs to win, which they accomplished effortlessly in just 3.2 overs, confirming their dominant win. For India, this defeat was another sobering experience, with their batting inadequacies further highlighted by the underperformance of senior players. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the most seasoned members of the team, appeared to be well past their prime, providing minimal resistance against the Australian bowlers. Although Jasprit Bumrah delivered commendable performances with the ball, India's bowling unit struggled without a reliable partner alongside him. Having batted for only 81 overs across both innings, India must implement substantial changes to compete effectively in the remaining Tests of the series.

Gavaskar emphasized that the team should focus on rectifying their mistakes from Adelaide and engage in targeted practice sessions. He suggested viewing the remainder of the series as a three-match contest rather than a five-match one, encouraging the Indian team to utilize the next few days for practice. He stated, "You cannot remain idle in your hotel rooms; you are here to play cricket. While it is not necessary to practice all day, dedicating a session in the morning or afternoon would be beneficial. Do not squander these two days, as you could have been engaged in a Test match."

Responsibility on coach, captain

The former captain of India emphasized that the responsibility for organizing additional practice sessions should rest exclusively with the captain and the coach. He argued that players are unlikely to volunteer for such sessions if given the option. "To find your rhythm, you must give yourself a chance. If you haven't scored runs and your bowlers lack rhythm, the decision regarding optional practice should be made by the captain and coach. The coach might say, ‘You scored 150 runs or bowled 40 overs in the match, so you can skip practice.’ It should be their prerogative to offer these choices, not the players.

If left to the players, they will likely choose to remain in their rooms," Gavaskar stated. He further remarked, "This is not the essence of Indian cricket. It is an honor and a privilege to represent India. I noted that they will be here for 57 days: 25 days for five Tests, two days for the PM's XI match, leaving them with 30 days off. They have an additional day in Perth and two days here. Therefore, I urge them to come and practice." Gavaskar also highlighted the performances of batting icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who faced challenges during the Adelaide Test.

He suggested that while it may be acceptable for the experienced players to skip practice due to their prior experience in Australia, the younger players should definitely participate in the sessions. "If you prefer not to have Rohit or Kohli practice because they are veterans and have been here multiple times, that is understandable. However, the younger players should be encouraged to attend practice," Gavaskar concluded.

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