Gavaskar asks Gill and Gambhir to stop 'optional practice' after Headingley loss: 'You have come here to play for India'

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India lost the first of five Tests against England at Headingley, Leeds by five wickets despite setting a challenging target of 371 and finding themselves in a dominant position multiple times. read more
Sunil Gavaskar has urged head coach Gautam Gambhir as well as captain Shubman Gill to abandon optional practice following the defeat at Headingley. Image: PTI/Reuters
Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has asked India captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir to stop the culture of 'optional practice sessions' for the Indian team following the five-wicket defeat in the first Test against England in Leeds.
India's tour of England, as well as Gill's tenure as Test captain, was off to a disappointing start at Headingley with the visiting team ending up on the losing side despite setting a stiff target of 371 and finding themselves in a dominant position at multiple points in the game.
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Gavaskar said that while the team had every right to take a break after the defeat, they needed to get back to practice at the earliest in order to prepare themselves for the second Test, which gets underway at Birmingham's Edgbaston on 2 July.
'Next couple of days you can take off, but now seriously get into practice. Leave this optional practice aside. You have come here to play for India. So, you practice in a way so that you will give yourself the best (chance),' Gavaskar said on Sony Sports.
'I mean Cheteshwar Pujara has been part of the optional team. I know when he opted to bat there have been people who have said, 'What are your doing?' including the coaching staff. I have seen some of the coaching staff, not this one, Cheteshwar was not part of this team, they said, 'Can't you have a break or something?'' he added.
Gavaskar bats for Kuldeep's inclusion
Gavaskar also batted for left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav's inclusion in the second Test, in place of Shardul Thakur, while adding that spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar could further strengthen India's batting order in order to prevent collapses like the ones at Headingley where India lost 13 wickets for 72 runs across both innings.
'Whether Jasprit Bumrah is fit or not, I think Kuldeep Yadav has to come into the team. I do believe that he should come into the team for Shardul Thakur because the Birmingham pitch will be one where there will be just a little bit of help for the wrist spinner.
'If things don't go well in the second test, maybe Sai (Sudharsan) and Karun (Nair). I don't want to drop them at the moment. Then I'd also look at Washington (Sundar), so that it really gives you a more solid batting, and also get a little more variety as far the bowling is concerned,' Gavaskar added.
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Lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah isn't likely to play more than three Tests in the ongoing series, and it remains to be seen whether Gill and Co name him in the XI for the second Test, in which they will be eyeing a series-leveling victory.