Openers have big heart: Gavaskar takes dig at India’s top-order collapse on Day 1 of 3rd Test vs Australia

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar has taken a sly dig at India’s top-order for their poor show on Day 1 of the 3rd Test match, vs Australia in Indore. The match started on an unlikely note for host as India’s top-order succumbed to an unexpected turn.

Australian off-spinners dominated the 1^st session of the match as Nathan Lyon and Mathew Kuhnemann bagged three wickets while Todd Murphy picked two, including prized wicket of Virat Kohli.

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While batting first, Indian openers -Rohit Sharma (12 off 23) and Shubman Gill (21 off 18) – added 27-runs for first wicket. Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara (1 off 4) too failed in his 101^st Test match, followed by Ravindra Jadeja (4 off 9), Shreyas Iyer (0 off 2), Virat Kohli (22 off 52) and Srikar Bharat (17 off 30).

India was reduced to 82 for 7 in 24.5 overs. 

Meanwhile, batting maestro Sunil Gavaskar has taken a sly dig at India’s top-order as he said that openers have big heart and they want everyone to get a chance. 

While speaking at Star Sports, Gavaskar was asked about the impact of India’s lower-orders batters – R Ashwin, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja – in the series. 

“Openers have a big heart. They want everyone to get batting opportunity,” Gavaskar said before he burst into laughter. 

Talking of the series, India has already retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for third time in a row after beating the visitors in first two Test match of the series. With a win in 3^rd Test match, Team India will secure its berth in the World Test Championship final, where Men in Blue will once again square off with Australia.