Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir who is known for his straight talking has said in the presence of CoA chief Vinod Rai and CEO Rahul Johri that the BCCI may have created extremely popular and successful Indian Premier League (IPL) but they have not done “enough” to market Test cricket, revered by the purists, says former India opener Gautam Gambhir.
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“I don’t think BCCI has marketed Test cricket as well as they have done with ODIs and T20s. I remember a Test match at Eden Gardens against West Indies (in 2011). India batting on the first day and there were 1000 people,” Gambhir said.
“Imagine Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman playing and there are only 1000 people,” Gambhir said during Boria Majumdar’s book ‘Eleven Gods and Billion Indians’.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has insisted that test cricket should be taken to tier-2 cities but Gambhir said it’s hardly a solution.
“I don’t know but they have messed it somewhere. May be cut down on T20s and ODIs,” the Delhi southpaw said.
Gambhir feels that playing white ball cricket before Test matches will be of little help.
India are schedule to play three Twenty20 and three ODIs before the marathon five-Test series against England.
“Playing with red dukes in Test is completely different from playing white ball cricket. The three T20s and three ODIs isn’t an indicator of how well you are prepared for the Tests,” said Gambhir, who is currently playing for Delhi Daredevils.
