New Delhi, March 3 (IANS): A livid Sunil Gavaskar has hit out at the Indian cricket team, saying the lack of a work ethic had let it down in the ongoing Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

The former India captain came down hard on the team following its one-wicket loss to Pakistan Sunday night in a close encounter at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. The second consecutive loss has hampered India's chances of a place in the final.

Gavaskar said India should get rid of 'optional practice' and there was no excuse for anyone apart from Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli to miss practice on the eve of the Pakistan match.

"India's work ethic has been pretty abysmal. It has let the team down. They have not practiced well and there can nothing be something like optional practice. There was no excuse for anyone apart from Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli to miss practice," Gavaskar told NDTV.

Gavaskar defended stand-in skipper Kohli's leadership ability saying the Delhi boy had done well as someone who was leading the Indian side in a major tournament for the first time.

"For somebody who is captaining for the first time in a major tournament, (Virat) Kohli has done well and shown promise. Losses to both Sri Lanka and Pakistan were suffered in the last over," said Gavaskar.

Gavaskar also criticised the Indian top order for being over-confident.

"India threw away a couple of wickets unnecessarily and every time Pakistan have been asked to chase 250 recently, they have failed. So, we were a few runs short," he said.