NEW DELHI: Amid the noise created by the high-profile Indian Premier League (IPL) beginning on March 31, the Indian team shouldn't commit the mistake of forgetting the ODI series defeat against Australia said the legendary Sunil Gavaskar.
India lost the third and final ODI by 21 runs in Chennai on Wednesday to concede the series 1-2 to Australia, and batting legend Gavaskar said Rohit Sharma's men could be up against the same opponents in the 50-over World Cup which the country is hosting in October-November.
"Of course, now the IPL starts (March 31). This (series defeat) shouldn't be forgotten. India sometimes makes the mistake of forgetting this, but this one shouldn't be because in the World Cup, we may face Australia again," said Gavaskar on Star Sports.
"It (defeat in 3rd ODI) was (due) the pressure created (by Australians). The boundaries had dried up and they (Indian batters) weren't even getting singles. When that happens, you try and play something that you are not used to. That is something they will have to look at."
Chasing a target of 270 for a win, India ended up at 248 in 49.1 overs to lose the third and final ODI and the three-match series.
1/10:Australia beat India to win ODI series
ANI
2/10:Series decider
<p>Australia handed India their first ODI series defeat at home since 2019 in a thrilling third and final match in Chennai on Wednesday. </p>ANI
3/10:Steve Smith
<p>Australia's stand-in-captain Steve Smith won the toss and chose to bat first in the series-decider. </p>AFP
4/10:Rohit Sharma
<p>India bowled out Australia for 269 and were cruising in the first 10 overs of their chase before skipper Rohit Sharma fell after a 17-ball 30. </p>Getty Images
5/10:Shubman Gill
<p>Shubman Gill fell after a steady 49-ball 37 to leg-spinner Adam Zampa. </p>Getty Images
6/10:69-run stand
<p>Kohli and KL Rahul struck a busy 69-run partnership before Rahul fell to Zampa for 32. </p>PTI
7/10:Virat Kohli
<p>Ashton Agar removed Virat Kohli (54) and Suryakumar Yadav for his third consecutive golden duck to leave India reeling at 185/6. </p>ANI
8/10:Adam Zampa
<p>Hardik Pandya (40) and Ravindra Jadeja (18) also fell to Zampa, who finished with 4-45 in his 10-over spell. </p>AP
9/10:Australia win
<p>Australia won the match by 21 runs after bowling out India for 248 in the last over. </p>PTI
10/10:Series win
<p>The 2-1 win in the series was also important practice on South Asian pitches for Australia before the ODI World Cup in India later this year. </p>PTIIndia's only substantial partnerships were 69 runs for the third wicket between Virat Kohli (54) and KL Rahul (32) and 65 between openers Rohit Sharma (30) and Shubman Gill (37).
"When you are chasing a score of 270 or nearly 300, you need a partnership of about 90 or 100 and that will take you close. But that didn't happen," Gavaskar, a former India captain, said.
"Yes, there were a couple of partnerships, one between Rahul and Kohli, but then you wanted another similar or bigger stand.
"Fielding from Australia was outstanding. Their bowling was very good. It was tight, stump to stump, but their fielding was very good. That was the difference."
(With PTI inputs)
