Too many talking heads can confuse players: Sunil Gavaskar urges selectors only to make the tough calls

Sunil Gavaskar stood by the side of the Indian players as there has been some serious heat on the back of the Men in Blue ever since their defeat against the English forces. Despite seeking for a few personnel changes to the current side, Gavaskar made it clear that at the end of the day, it shouldn’t be us calling the shots but the selectors will be doing their required jobs.

He made it very clear about the fact that a defeat in the semis doesn’t invite for a knee-jerk reaction that can force a paradigm shift in the Indian side, especially with the World Cup coming in the next year.

Talking to India Today, Gavaskar said, “None of these questions would have come if we had won the match. You lose one match and we start taking potshots at the team.”

He further added, “I know there are issues that can be looked at, for example the workload management thing. I think we should also look at the number of members we carry. Too many talking heads can confuse players. These are things that the powers that be should be thinking but let's not talk about wholesale changes just because we have lost. If we had gone to the final, we would have been talking about who should be playing in the XI. We are very famous for these knee-jerk reactions and having a go at our team when we lose, don't think it's the right way. I know we need to look at measures to strengthen our teams and for that if we have to take hard calls, other than you and me there is a selection committee that is appointed so they will have to take the hard calls.”

India will be battling New Zealand up next and then travel to Bangladesh for an important bilateral affair with the fate of the WTC final hanging in balance that would see a major shuffle post India’s exploits in Bangladesh.