Sunny slams India for casual approach

“The team returned to India after their heart-warming performance in Nairobi on the morning of October 17 by a flight via Dubai.

“They were due to leave for Dubai again in the early hours of October 18 but postponed their departure in the early hours of 19th. They, thus, arrived in Dubai without any proper rest or sleep and played Sri Lanka the next day.”

The acclimitisation was important, Gavaskar said, as the matches in Nairobi were played during daytime while the matches in Sharjah were to be played under lights.

“The matches in Nairobi were played during the day, the games in Sharjah are day-night and the speed at which the ball drops from the sky is difficult to adjust to, especially at night under the lights and also the climate in Sharjah.”

“By giving themselves just one day to acclimatise in Sharjah, the Indians showed a lack of professionalism and it was no surprise that the Sri Lankans caught them when they seemed to be sleepwalking in the game. “How else can one explain the run outs and the sloppy fielding? ” Gavaskar asked.

The former Indian opener came down heavily on Rahul Dravid for the way he was run-out against the Sri Lankans. “We are told that playing in England helps to get a professional attitude. Then how does one explain Dravid not even trying to put his bat in the crease but trying to reach it with his toes.

Gavaskar said the the players needed to discipline themselves and the coach should be given more powers in this regard.

“All these fundamental errors or rather cricketing indiscipline will continue unless the coach is given the power to sack such players, so that the mistakes will not be repeated,” he said.