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India's Strength are Spinners: Sunil Gavaskar's Scathing Attack on Indian Team

image-lewtfqhrIndia lead 2-1 in the Test series [AP Photos]

Former Indian cricketer and legend Sunil Gavaskar took a shot at team India's bowling attack, which looked far from good without their ace bowlers in the third Test against Australia at Holkar Stadium, Indore.

India's dominant performance against Australia in the first two Tests was dampened by a humiliating 9-wicket loss in the third Test. Gavaskar pointed out that the team's lack of pace bowlers was a major factor behind their defeat.

In a conversation with India Today, Gavaskar expressed his concerns over India's bowling line-up, stating that without their frontline pacers Bumrah and Shami, India is unable to take 20 wickets. 

He further highlighted that the team has been relying heavily on turning pitches to give their spinners an advantage. 

Here's what Gavaskar said:

"Taking 20 wickets is not going to be easy in India. On a lot of Indian pitches, without your ace bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami and a slightly inexperienced Mohammed Siraj, I don't think that bowling attack is such (strong). But with a little bit of help from a dry pitch, India can probably take 20 wickets. I think that is the thinking behind preparing such pitches."

Notably, Jasprit Bumrah, who was earlier expected to return to action for WTC final in Lords has been ruled out of it as well as the upcoming season of Indian Premier League. 

Mohammed Shami was included in India's playing XI for the first two Tests, but was rested in the third Test as part of a workload management plan. However, there are reports suggesting that he may be brought back into the playing XI for the fourth and final Test at Ahmedabad. 

"For India to reach the World Test Championship Final, they did not have any other options (than producing turning tracks)."

"If you would have had a strong attack, maybe you could have done something different but your strength is your spinners and therefore I think these pitches are being made. You do not want a flat pitch where the batters go out and dominate. These pitches are testing the temperament of the batters."

While the pitches in Nagpur and New Delhi were given an "average" rating by the ICC, the pitch for the Indore Test received a "poor" rating from match referee Chris Broad, after the match ended in just three days.