Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar says at least three senior cricketers may not be selected again for Tests after the disastrous Test series against Australia.
The team is heading towards its second successive Test series whitewash, with another massive defeat looming in the fourth and final Test in Adelaide, and Gavaskar said time has come for the likes of Virat Kohli to be handed more responsibility.
'The selectors should pick youngsters'
"I think at least three or four players might have played probably their last Test in Australia. I am saying this because India's next Test is six-eight months away. Now the selectors should pick youngsters who would serve the country in the years down the line," Gavaskar said.
He, however, refused to name the youngsters who could replace the seniors in the current squad.
"That's the selectors' job, not mine," said Gavaskar.
Gavaskar believes India has opportunity to score more runs
A sarcastic Gavaskar said India at last has the opportunity to score more runs than the Australians in any innings during the Test series if the team score two more runs on Saturday.
"Australia declared their second innings at 167 for 5 and India were 166 for six at stumps today. So if India scores two more runs tomorrow they will be ahead of Australia in the second innings," he said.
'There's some sort of defeatist attitude hanging around'
Asked if he remembers any instance when Indian batsmen were tied to knots by a slow bowler, as was done by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon, Gavaskar replied, "Indian batsmen got bogged under pressure. There's some sort of defeatist attitude hanging around, even the most experienced players have been affected by it.
"There was an air of resignation. There was nothing like let's fight back, get down to doing something. That's why they are on the verge of their eighth successive Test defeat overseas," he told NDTV.
'No. 3 is going to be Kohli's number in the years to come'
Gavaskar said Kohli, who scored a century in the first innings of the ongoing Test in Adelaide, should have been promoted to the number three slot.
"Yes, he should have been promoted to number three. That opportunity has been missed. That (number three) is going to be his number in the years to come and he should have been given that number three slot in Adelaide.
'India missed out on the chance to experiment with Kohli'
"Virat scored a hundred in Australia, the lone player to do so. Maybe, his confidence could have stemmed the rot and might have protected the senior players who have been sorely out of form. They (seniors) could have been protected by him (Virat), and, who knows, the senior players could have done better in the last couple of days in Adelaide.
"India missed out on the chance to experiment with Kohli.
The same thing happened in the West Indies and England. With some extra zip, India could have won the series in the West Indies 3-0. In England, they were flat-footed, not only on the field but also in their thinking."
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