Current team's depth and balance the best in Indian history: Gavaskar

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar felt that the current national side's depth and capabilities makes them the best team in history. The batting great likened the large talent pool to that of the team between 1983-86.

"This current team is probably the best ever in the history of Indian cricket. Only the teams from 1983 to 1986 had a similar kind of depth and balance," Gavaskar told the Quint. 

Under Virat Kohli India won its first ever Test series in Australia in 2020 and successfully defended without Kohli and the senior players for the majority of the series. Currently, the team is playing its first of five-match Test series against England in Trent Bridge. Gavaskar felt that the team might lose an odd Test, but will most likely win the ongoing series.

"This team though is better because they have beaten Australia in their own conditions recently and have more game-changers with both bat and ball. If the sun is out, they should win the series easily and, if there are some overcast days, then too they should win but may lose the odd Test,” Gavaskar added.

Gavaskar was part of India's first Test series win in England in 1971 under the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar. The legendary batsman remembered his maiden fifty in England at Lord's under hostile conditions.

"Yes, that half-century is my best effort in Test cricket. We played on a green wicket for the first time. We couldn’t distinguish the pitch from the rest of the outfield from our changing room on the upper floor. The overcast conditions meant that the grass didn’t dry out and, in the slight drizzle, the umpires didn’t take players off the field. The light rain was freshening up the pitch and, the ball was swinging and bouncing too. That’s why it’s my best innings in Test cricket," Gavaskar said.