Reflecting on the team's performance, Gavaskar acknowledged the promising displays by Jaiswal and Reddy during the recent series. Jaiswal, who scored 391 runs in five Tests, highlighted his excellent performance in the series opener in Perth with a brilliant 161-run knock, despite a period of struggle later in the series. Nitish Reddy, on the other hand, scored 298 runs across nine innings, including a vital maiden Test century in Melbourne.
In an interview with Star Sports, Gavaskar said, "If we talk about the macro picture, like we saw with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Yashasvi Jaiswal – they are hungry. They are hungry to earn a name for India. They are hungry to earn a name for themselves. Such players are needed. You need such players who will protect their wicket like their life. You need such players. You can play with them on stroke. But the commitment I want to see."
Gavaskar expressed concern over the lack of application and determination among several players in the Test series, specifically pointing out India's batting shortcomings. He pointed out that aside from the first Test, where two players scored centuries, there was a lack of significant contributions from the rest of the squad. "How many Indian players have scored centuries? Except for the first Test match with two centuries, there is only the century of Nitish Kumar Reddy. How many players made half-centuries and tried to turn the match? It did not happen because the application that is required in Test cricket—the application and determination—was very low," he said.
The legendary opener also discussed India’s technical deficiencies, which were evident during both the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and the recent home series loss to New Zealand. He stressed the importance of addressing these issues as the next cycle of the World Test Championship approaches. "What I saw were technical deficiencies. If you have been making the same mistakes, and I am not just talking about this series—I am talking about the New Zealand series as well," Gavaskar noted. "What did you do against New Zealand in India? And that’s why, now, because the next cycle will start in June, we have not qualified for the World Test Championship. From now on, we should be ready for it."
The veteran cricketer also addressed the need for players to commit to domestic cricket, especially with the upcoming Ranji Trophy matches starting on January 23. "There should be no excuse for not being able to play," he said. Gavaskar emphasized that players who fail to show up for domestic duties would face serious consequences, with head coach Gautam Gambhir needing to take tough decisions regarding player availability.
Gavaskar added, "Today is January 5. On January 23, there is the next round of the Ranji Trophy. Let’s see how many players from this squad play. Let’s see how many people are available. And there should be no excuse for not being able to play. If you do not play those matches, then I say that Gautam Gambhir will have to take a few tough decisions against those who are not available for the Ranji Trophy, saying, ‘You do not have that commitment. We need commitment. You are not playing. Whatever you want to do, do it. But for Indian cricket, you cannot return to the Test squad.’"
Looking ahead, India will next face England in a series of three ODIs and five T20Is at home from January 22 to February 12. As the team prepares for these shorter formats, Gavaskar’s comments serve as a reminder of the need for both technical improvement and unwavering commitment if India is to regain its dominance in Test cricket.
