Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who is currently in Singapore for the 1983 World Cup-winning team's felicitation, wants Indian cricket to stop its fascination with individuals and rather think about the collective team. Well, Gavaskar is not the first one to put forward this notion. It's no secret that the current head coach of the men's team, Gautam Gambhir, also hates the superstar culture and wants the entire Men in Blue lineup to be acknowledged rather than just one or two individuals.
Sunil Gavaskar wants Indian cricket to be the top priority, not certain individuals (Deepak Salvi)
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Gavaskar's comments came ahead of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka in Galle. India faces an uphill battle in order to reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Oval next year. After the series loss against South Africa last year, India must win seven out of their remaining nine Tests to have any chance of reaching the summit clash.
The legendary batter believes that India can whitewash Sri Lanka in the two-Test series, and it all depends on whether the lineup has the needed belief. However, he then added that the belief should be to prioritise Indian cricket rather than some big "individuals."
Deep Dive
Why does Sunil Gavaskar believe Indian cricket should prioritize the team over individuals?
Sunil Gavaskar emphasizes that the collective effort of the team must take precedence over individual accomplishments, regardless of the player's stature. He believes that focusing on the team's unity is essential for success, especially in light of India's need to secure wins for the World Test Championship.
How can India's Test team increase their chances of reaching the World Test Championship final?
To enhance their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final, India must win seven out of their remaining nine Tests, starting with a clean sweep against Sri Lanka. This requires both strong performances and the team's commitment to prioritize collective goals over individual recognition.
What are the challenges faced by the Indian team in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka?
The Indian team faces significant challenges in Sri Lanka, including competing against a formidable home side. Additionally, the team will need to address selection dilemmas, particularly regarding the balance between batting and bowling departments due to injuries and form issues among key players.
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The two-match series in Sri Lanka won’t be easy, as Sri Lanka at home are a formidable team. Winning both these Tests would be a good start to the new Test season, as well as give the team the impetus it needs to qualify for the WTC Final," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.
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"To be able to do so requires loads of effort and also some luck, but, above all, the belief that Indian cricket should be the priority and not any individual, however big a name he may be," he added.
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"To be able to do so requires loads of effort and also some luck, but, above all, the belief that Indian cricket should be the priority and not any individual, however big a name he may be," he added.
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Ahead of the opening Test against Sri Lanka, the Indian team played a three-day practice game against SLC XI, winning by six wickets. Devdutt Padikkal was the headline act with his unbeaten century in the first innings.
'Value of IPL'
Gavaskar also added the value of the Indian Premier League (IPL), saying the T20 tournament has displayed the need for well-organised competitions. He further stated that the IPL has helped cricket boards worldwide and that its growth is essential to the global sport.
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"Today, the IPL has shown the world what a well-organised tournament can do. The fruits of that success have spurred Indian franchise owners to venture into other countries and lift those countries’ cricketing ecosystems to a higher level than might otherwise have been possible," wrote Gavaskar.
Vishesh Roy is a sports journalist with a strong focus on cricket. He began his career at Asian News International (ANI), where he covered a range of high-profile events, including the India Open, Legends Cricket League, the England–India Test series in Ahmedabad in 2021, and the inauguration of the Narendra Modi Stadium. During his tenure at ANI, he also reported extensively on domestic cricket, covering several Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy matches across the country. While cricket remains his primary beat, Vishesh has also reported on tennis, football and WWE. After a stint of over three years at ANI, Vishesh moved to NDTV, where he gained hands-on experience in digital-first journalism, with a particular emphasis on live blogs and real-time news reporting. He joined Hindustan Times in October 2024 and quickly established himself with a series of exclusive interviews and source-driven stories. Ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, Hindustan Times was the first to report that the two-day event would be held in Saudi Arabia. In the early months of his tenure, Vishesh secured interviews with leading cricketers, including Pat Cummins, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rashid Latif. He has also closely tracked the rise of emerging talents such as Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya by speaking to their current and childhood coaches. His background in on-field reporting has helped Hindustan Times Digital break exclusive stories on major developments, including Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji and Vijay Hazare Trophy, IPL scheduling, and the T20 World Cup controversy involving Bangladesh and Pakistan.
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Home/Cricket/Sunil Gavaskar wants Indian cricket to stop making 'individuals priority' no matter 'how big a name': 'Belief that...'
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