Following India's 87-run loss in the fifth and final ODI against New Zealand in Wellington on Friday, former India skipper and NDTV expert Sunil Gavaskar lamented Indian openers' inability to provide good starts as one of the top reasons for India's 4-0 rout. Among other factors, Gavaskar slammed the tour management's selection policies for the defeat. (Match report)Not long ago, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team failed to create an impact in South Africa and the poor performances have continued in New Zealand. While a lot of blame has been put on the India's listless bowling performances, Gavaskar pointed out that India's famed batting equally ruined them in New Zealand. (Highlights)
"India have not got off to a start at all. In South Africa and in New Zealand, we have not got off to a start of say 60-70 runs to make it easy for the batsmen to follow. India need to look into that aspect. India need to look at the combination," Gavaskar told NDTV from Wellington on Friday.
With the World Cup just a year away, India's big task of defending their title has been dealt a severe blow as they failed to register a single win in the ODI series against the Kiwis. To arrest that slide, Gavaskar felt the tour management, led by Dhoni, failed to think out of the box. It was simply too rigid.
"You have to test all the talent available before World Cup. Cannot rule out anybody. There has to be competition for places," Gavaskar said.
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