Gavaskar, Holding slam Indian players’ attitude

Michael Holding said that Indian players give a feeling that they have been forced to play the Test series against England © Getty Images

By CricketCountry Staff

Cricket legends Michael Holding and Sunil Gavaskar have slammed the Indian players after watching Indian team perform poorly in the ongoing Test series. Speaking to Indian news channel NDTV, the two questioned the attitude of the World Cup winning team.

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar criticized the Indian team for lack of passion while playing. "I think they are going through the motions, they are trying for the first one and a half hour and then they just seem to give it up," said Gavaskar.

"There are one or two (players) in this team who have given impression that they just don't care, that they are above everything else, it seems as if that Indian teams owe them something now that they have won the World Cup", he added.

Gavaskar also questioned the role of support staff in the Indian team."It’s about time that some hard steps were taken. What happens is that one or two not interested becomes infectious. This team needs energy, their energy is lacking. We have specialised coaches and this is what happens...10 no balls? ... and what about the specialised coaching of fielding? What’s happening?" said a fuming Gavaskar.

Even former West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding did not spare the Indian players for poor performance and said that Indian players give an impression that they are not interested in Test cricket.

Holding said, "I have said this before and I would say it again, that it appears that Indian players look disinterested in Test cricket, it seems that Test cricket is just something that they have to do and not something that they have to concentrate on."

Holding also compared them to the West Indies team that toured England two years ago. "This Indian team reminds of the West Indies tour 2 years ago; when they were force to come for a tour of England which they didn’t want to.

"That's what this Indian team looks like, they don't want to be here, this is not a proper Indian team, this is not the number one team in the world".

"England are just expected to win, it's just a matter of when. I think India are just waiting to lose the match", added Holding