Legendary Sunil Gavaskar has questioned the team management’s strategy of making changes in the batting order against Bangladesh in the Super Fours clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Wednesday after SKY’s team registered a 41-run win.
India decided to promote Shivam Dube at one drop, but the left-hander was dismissed after scoring two runs. Furthermore, Samson was demoted to number eight and did not get a chance to bat as India posted 168 runs on the board. Gavaskar said India had assigned the finishers role to Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson before the continental tournament.
“You assign everyone their roles before the tournament. You would have given Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson the finishers’ role. Since you are opening with Shubman Gill, it means Samson would have to come at No. 5 or No. 6, but today he didn’t get a chance to bat at all. The batting order should be changed only based on the situation”, Sunil Gavaskar said on Sony Sports.
“You put a little pressure on Shivam Dube. You put him at No. 3. He is not used to that number. It might have made a bigger difference had the tweaking been slightly less. Suryakumar Yadav also needs to score runs. He has gotten out twice while playing that shot,” the former India captain added.
Gavaskar added that Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav must get settled before playing his favorite scoop shot.
“It’s his favorite shot. He has scored a lot of runs playing that shot. However, if you are getting out playing that shot, keep it in cold storage till you reach 20-25. After that, when you hit, it will go only for sixes,” he observed.
On the other hand, the Little Master noted that Jasprit Bumrah’s rhythm was excellent at the start as the gun pacer got the ball to move away from the left-handers. Bumrah bowled three overs on the trot in the Powerplay and he returned with figures of 1-17.
“Whether our batters score runs or not, our team is capable of defending because of the variety in our bowling. Jasprit Bumrah’s rhythm was excellent at the start. Hardik also bowled extremely well,” he replied.
Meanwhile, Gavaskar observed that Varun Chakravarthy was expensive in his first over, conceding 13 runs, but said Kuldeep was right on the money, returning with impressive figures of 3-18 in his quota of four overs.
“Varun got hit a little today for sure, but Kuldeep’s magic is working. Kuldeep is bowling very thoughtfully. He was swept on the first ball. He changed his line and length slightly on the second ball and got a wicket. The way Kuldeep is attacking, it seems like the Indian team can defend even 140. Our bowling attack gives that much confidence,” Gavaskar elaborated.
India will take on Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Friday.
