'Even the skill set is way below the standard required at...' - Sunil Gavaskar gives blunt analysis after India's T20I series loss against West Indies

Team India's outings in the recently-concluded tour of the West Indies did not go as expected for the visitors. First, they claimed the two-match Test series by 1-0. But they struggled in the white-ball assignments including the three-match ODI series followed by the five-match T20I series. The Men in Blue somehow won the three-match ODI series by 2-1.

But they failed to go past the hosts West Indies in the five-match T20I series and it also serves as an alarm for the Indian cricket team given their preparations for the upcoming major international tournament.

When it comes to playing for the country, it's a different ball game: Sunil Gavaskar

In the same line of events, former legendary Indian skipper and batting great, Sunil Gavaskar also lashed out at Team India for unimpressive performance. He came up with a very bold and blunt take while analysing the team's performance in the five-match T20I series.

"A player could do well at the franchise level, but when it comes to playing for the country, it's a different ball game of pressures and expectations. It is one step up, which can be too steep for even some of the best performers at the franchise level. How often have we seen this when the Under-19 performers just aren't able to take that one step up from a boys' tournament to a men's competition?” wrote Gavaskar in his column on Sportstar.

"Yes, the kids look great playing against kids, but when they come up against the men, they suddenly find that what looks like a piece of cake at the under-19 level is more like mud at the senior level. That's why so many who looked good at the boys' level have been found wanting at the senior level. It's not just the temperament; even the skill set is way below the standard required at the franchise level. Then, having been bought for crores, some of these youngsters lose the fire in the belly and are happy to cruise along in later years and get their contracts extended, even if it is for a lesser amount," he added later.