If the Indian team does not win this T20 World Cup, it won't be for lack of preparation: Sunil Gavaskar

Team  India will kick off its T20 World Cup 2022 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan. The match is set to be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 23 (Sunday). Meanwhile, former India cricketer and expert Sunil Gavaskar has said that it will come as a real surprise, if India does not win the title this time, given the ample time the team has had for preparations.

The Indian cricket team recently played against South Africa and Australia in two back-to-back three-match T20I series at home. The Men in Blue then arrived in Australia and participated in a couple of practice games against Western Australia, including a warm-up game against Australia. 

If you fail to prepare then prepare to fail: Gavaskar 

"One thing for sure. If the Indian team does not win this T20 World Cup it won't be for lack of preparation. Not only have they gone to Australia almost three weeks before their first game of the tournament, but they are also playing practice games against good sides that should get them ready for the tournament.

The old saying, 'if you fail to prepare then prepare to fail' will not apply to this Indian team as, apart from these games in Australia, they also played six T20 matches at home and won four out of those," Gavaskar penned in his column for Mid-Day.

Former India captain also reflected on India's recent performance in white-ball cricket and said that there's optimism among Indian cricket fans that the T20 World Cup trophy should come home. 

"India's performance in the white ball bilaterals has always been good, be it at home or overseas, but it's in the multilateral events that they have been stumbling. In the past, it's been because they have come cold into the event. But that isn't the case this time around and that's why, with a terrific blend of youth and experience, there's optimism among Indian cricket fans that the Cup should be coming home.

Yes, the other teams have also been playing practice games and that should hold them in good stead, but there's a buzz about this Indian team despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja," he added.