1st T20I: Defeat was a very good wake-up call for India, says Gavaskar

The defeat to a depleted Sri Lanka in the first T20 international was a good wake-up call for the Indians, according to former captain, who said the batsmen should have shown more respect to Lankan pacers

Pune: The defeat to a depleted Sri Lanka in the first T20 international was a good wake-up call for the Indians, according to former captain Sunil Gavaskar, who said the batsmen should have shown more respect given that the Lankan pace trio was an unknown proposition.

Sunil Gavaskar

Put into bat, India were off to a disastrous start losing two wickets in the first over itself, eventually getting bowled out for 101.

"If you see India had lost two wickets in the first over and then Shikhar Dhawan got out trying to play a hoick for a six when in the same over we have had Suresh Raina hitting a six and a boundary, so there were enough runs scored in that over.

"And what India really need to think was the fact that this new attack of Sri Lanka they haven't really seen it. You might see videos but when you are playing them for the first time it's just that little bit difficult," he said.

"These guys were bowling well, pitching the ball on a good length, getting the ball to move around. So, maybe a little bit of caution was called for particularly after India lost their first two wickets in the first over and maybe given the bowlers just that little bit more respect, then they could
have got 30-40 runs which could have made the difference," Gavaskar told 'NDTV'.

On a lively track, which had fair amount of bounce and seam movement, India were skittled out for a paltry total in 18.5 overs with the rookie pace trio of Kasun Rajitha (3/29), Dashun Shanaka (3/16) and Dushmantha Chameera (2/14) doing bulk of the damage. With the five-wicket defeat India's winning sequence in T20 internationals came to an embarrassing end.

"My honest advice now is that it's a very, very good wake-up call for the Indians having seen what the Sri Lankans can do. They should be better prepared for the remaining two matches," Gavsakar said.

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