Gavaskar criticizes Dinesh Karthik's 'mistake' as India faces tough challenge against New Zealand

The upcoming Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia is generating a lot of buzz and excitement. This year, for the first time in over three decades, the series will be contested over a 5-Test format instead of the usual four, with the first match scheduled to begin on November 22 in Perth. As the cricketing world eagerly awaits this highly anticipated series, Gavaskar interjected Karthik's comments by emphasizing the significance of the upcoming clash against Australia, reminding everyone that it is not to be overlooked.

"Don't talk about Australia now. That is a mistake that a lot of people often make. You've got to worry about what's happening now. Your focus should be only on what's happening at the moment. Australia will take care of itself. When you go there, you will find the methods to beat Australia. You've done that over the last couple of trips there. You found a way," Gavaskar said on air.

The former India captain, who highlights the name of the Trophy which the two teams will play for, admitted that it's not the players but the hype generated by the media which tends to take the attention away from what's happening in the present. India are fighting tooth and nail against the BlackCaps to preserve their streak of 18 straight Test series win, but even then, there's no shortage of noise from the Australian shores, with several former Aussie cricketers showing interest in the whereabouts of the Indian team.

Gavaskar, who has previously expressed his reservation with this practice, touched upon the topic, saying if Australian players can advise the Indian team which player to pick and not, the same rule should apply on former Indian cricketers too. India vs Australia, like The Ashes, is regarded as arguably the biggest Test series in the world; however, that doesn't mean that the ongoing series against New Zealand, or any other team for that matter, should dwarf in comparison.

"It's not the players. The players are focussed on the game. It's the circle around which is the media and everybody else which is talking about Australia. There is so much of coverage about what is going to happen in Australia. The Australian players are all the time talking about the Indian team, what should be the team and all that. Pick him, pick that player. No body is asking us about the Australian team. All the former Australian players are telling us pick this guy, that guy. Ask us too who should be in the Australian team," pointed out Gavaskar.