Sunil Gavaskar “Won’t Be Surprised” If India Selectors Take “Bold Decision” After WTC Heartbreak

January 7, 2025: Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has suggested that it wouldn’t be a “surprise” if the Indian selectors make a “bold decision” regarding the team’s lineup during their upcoming Test tour of England, following India’s failure to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

India’s hopes of reaching the WTC final were dashed after a disappointing performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), where they lost to Australia in the decisive Test at Sydney. Despite an initial boost from a win in Perth, India’s series collapse against New Zealand, followed by a 3-1 loss to Australia, ended their chances of reaching the WTC final.

India’s struggles during the series highlighted the declining form of some senior players, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli coming under the most scrutiny for their underwhelming performances. In particular, Rohit opted out of the final Sydney Test with an injury, and Kohli‘s failure to contribute consistently raised questions about his future in the longest format.

Gavaskar, writing in his column for The Sydney Morning Herald, pointed out that India’s inability to qualify for the WTC final presents an opportunity for the selectors to make necessary changes. With the new WTC cycle beginning with the England tour in June, he hinted at the possibility of fresh faces being introduced to build a team for the 2027 final.

“Now that India has failed to qualify for the World Test Championship final and the new cycle for the WTC starting with the tour to England in mid-June, it won’t be a surprise if the selectors take the bold decision to start the qualification process by looking for players who would be there for the next final in 2027,” Gavaskar wrote.

One of the significant reasons behind India’s recent slump has been their poor batting display. Senior players such as Rohit, Virat, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja underperformed in crucial moments. In the 3-1 series defeat, Kohli managed just 190 runs at an average of 23.75 across eight innings, while Rohit managed a meager 31 runs in the three Tests he played.

Gavaskar’s comments indicate that the selectors may look to build a team for the future, focusing on younger players who could be better suited for the long-term WTC goals, while perhaps moving on from some of the aging stalwarts who have been unable to meet expectations in recent series.