'I think defending has always been India's problem'- Sunil Gavaskar

India sealed a close win vs New Zealand [Source: AP]

Indian bowling, for a year or so, has struggled to defend mammoth targets, despite coming in commanding positions. 

The lack of front-line bowlers due to injury and the inexperience of the younger lot is one of the main reasons behind India's failure to bowl the opposition out.

Now, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has stated that defending targets has been India's biggest problem for a long time. 

Speaking to India Today, Gavaskar said that the team management needs to look into the bowling side of things more, with batting performing well.

Here's what Gavaskar said

"I think that's always been one of India's problems. Not being able to defend. India is always good at chasing. If a similar situation was given to India to chase 350 then I I think the Indian batting with the depth (that they have) they would have got it,

"Like we saw, we have seen it earlier in the T20 format as well. India can get to 190-200 but sometimes struggles to defend that total. So, clearly bowling is the area that has been a concern for a while. That is where you find a little more churning going on."

Despite putting New Zealand down on the mat, Indian bowlers allowed Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell to form a massive stand in the first ODI. 

So, as Gavaskar put it, the hosts must sort their issues against the tail-enders ahead of the second game in Raipur scheduled on Saturday. 

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