Former Indian player Sunil Gavaskar dismissed the narrative on captain Rohit Sharma being casual with the bat after their shocking home Test series defeat to New Zealand as well. Team India also lost their proud home record in Tests with their first series defeat since 2012-13, including facing a 0-3 whitewash for the first time at home as well.

Speaking to the Indian Express following the shocking series defeat, Gavaskar said, “I think, with somebody who has got time to play the shots like he has and the elegance he has, people generally tend to misinterpret that (as casual). It used to happen with David Gower all the time. Lovely, easy on the eye batsman. So, every time he got out, they would say, ‘oh, he doesn’t bother’,” said Gavaskar. “They all care about their wicket. They all want to score as many runs as possible. It’s just that their batting looks so simple and their dismissals also therefore look that way. But it’s just a natural way for them. Can’t point fingers.”

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However, Sunil Gavaskar also defended Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for their poor form with the bat in the New Zealand series. He also felt even the best of batters have poor phases and opened up on the challenging pitches in all three Tests as a key reason behind their low scores.

“Even the best of players go through bad patches. These weren’t easy pitches to bat on in all three matches. Except, perhaps, the second innings in Bengaluru. Sometimes you need a bit of luck… like you make the first mistake and the ball goes only near the stump. Somebody drops a catch, a close LBW goes in your favor,” said Gavaskar. “All these things can happen. But when going through a bad patch, everything goes against you. Somebody takes a brilliant catch, you get a great delivery. I won’t read too much into it.”