Former opener Sunil Gavaskar has smashed the Indian top-order for their loose dismissals on Day 3 (December 16) of the third Test against Australia in Brisbane as well. With the series tied at 1-1, India gave away the early advantage to the Indian team after failing to capitalize on winning the toss and bowling first as well. Australia amassed 445 in their first essay on the back of centuries from Travis Head and Steve Smith. In response, the Indian top-order of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli were blown away by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood as well.

Speaking to Star Sports during the lunch break on Day 3, Sunil Gavaskar said as quoted by News18: “Look at how Jaiswal threw away his wicket. When you have such a tough challenge ahead of you, you need to be patient and refrain from playing such shots. You cannot score 445 in half an hour, or even 245 runs – required to avoid the follow-on – in that time period. Shubman Gill chased a ball outside off, and so did Virat Kohli, which was unnecessary. So, there was no role of the pitch. They just played poor shots.”

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However, Sunil Gavaskar also criticized Virat Kohli for his loose drive against Josh Hazlewood a delivery before the players went off the field due to rain as well. The veteran also fell for a 16-ball 3, leaving his already woeful Test average this year at 25.06 in 17 innings as well.

“If it was on the fourth stump I could understand. This was wide, on the seventh, eighth stump, you could say. There’s no need to play that. He’d be very, very disappointed, he’d be very upset with that. Even before Rishabh Pant faced a ball, the rain started to come down and the covers have come on. If Kohli had shown a bit of patience he could be not out with KL Rahul,” said Gavaskar on Channel 7.