The Indian team’s itinerary for the ongoing tour of England was immensely criticized for having just one practice game ahead of the 5-match Test series. Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar pointed out that India did not play more than a solitary warm-up game ahead of the Test series in which they are trailing 0-2 at the moment. Now, India’s limited-overs opener Rohit Sharma has also up with a similar view.

Sharma, who was dropped from the Test squad for the first three Tests of the series despite scoring a century in the ODI series preceding it, said the best way for preparing for an overseas tour is by playing as many matches and practice sessions as possible. He said, “You have to prepare for the conditions and the best preparation you can have is by going to that particular country and playing as many matches and have as many practice sessions as possible. It cannot happen because we get a few days to prepare for a series. But whatever time you get, be it in Mumbai or Australia or England, you try and prepare for the conditions accordingly.”

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Earlier this year, Team India was also criticized for canceling the solitary warm-up game ahead of the Test series in South Africa which they lost 1-2. In England, after having a chance to win the first Test at Edgbaston which before losing it by 31 runs, they were hammered in the second Test at Lord’s by an innings and 159 runs.

Gavaskar was also critical India should have left London early for Nottingham to prepare at Trent Bridge as early as they could. The visitors opted for only two practice sessions ahead of the third Test starting August 18. On the other hand,  Sharma said that there was very little the batsmen could do in the middle of the series as they were up against a quality English bowling.

As quoted in India Today, the hitman explained, “Its very tough to make changes in between. Whatever changes you do, you have to do it at the start. Trying to change a whole lot in middle of the series, would not be a good idea. You can do minor changes, but you cannot do a whole lot.”

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Sharma, known to be an attacking batsman in the limited-overs formats, advised the Indian batsmen to counter-attack the English bowlers which will allow them to score as many runs as possible as in English conditions survival can’t be the only option because the conditions are bowlers friendly more often than not.