Sunil Gavaskar shells out advice to batters ahead of Ahmedabad TestCrouch a little like a wicket-keeper

Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar has shelled out advice to tackle the spin-friendly pitches in India, saying batters will be able to meet the deviation and bounce better if they crouch a little like a wicket-keeper. India is set to face Australia in the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar series in Ahmedabad on March 9.

Speaking to Indian Express, Gavaskar said standing upright doesn’t give an advantage to the batter on turning tracks, insisting that it is better to crouch a little like a wicket-keeper to meet the deviation and bounce better.

“Standing upright does not give that advantage on turners. They would be able to meet the deviation and bounce better if you crouch a little like a wicket-keeper,” said Gavaskar.

Gavaskar said bending a little helps the batter get closer to the ball. Adding that this would also help the batter decided whether to meet the ball on the front or back foot.

“Bending a bit helps you as you are closer to the ball, so to speak. Just like a great wicketkeeper who gets up with the bounce, a batsman, if he crouches just a little bit, not too low, where his head is more in line with the delivery angle, he would get to know which one to play, how far to go forward or is it better to go on the back foot,” Gavaskar added.

He went on to say that if the batters wants the defend the ball better, then the bottom hand has to have the slightest of holds on the handle.

“The top hand guides the bat and the bottom hand decides the speed. So if you want to dead bat then the bottom hand has to have the slightest of holds on the handle. The top hand will bring the bat down as you want it, either straight or across the pads,” said Gavaskar.

India currently leads the four-match Test series 2-1 and will take on the Baggy Greens in the fourth and final Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 9.