Sunil Gavaskar Points Out Huge Flaw In Gautam Gambhir's Team India Setup: "That's Where You Lose"

Sunil Gavaskar unhappy with Gautam Gambhir's setup for the Indian team© AFP

India legend Sunil Gavaskar didn't mince his words as he pointed out a huge flaw in head coach Gautam Gambhir's setup for the team. Gambhir, whose inclination towards multi-skilled players isn't hidden from anyone, pointed out how the management's push towards a longer batting lineup has been hurting the balance, and resulting in them losing matches that they shouldn't.

Speaking to the broadcaster after the washed-out 5th Test between India and West Indies in Bengaluru on Saturday, Gavaskar said on JioStar's 'Haier Cricket Live' that the team needs 4 mainstream bowlers and 2 all-rounders. For him, there's no point in extending the length of the batting order to 8.

"We didn't get to see the bowling. It would have been interesting to see how the Indians bowled in this nine-over game. The takeaway from the series is that, in their bowling, they have to play with at least four regular bowlers. A fifth bowler and a sixth can be your all-rounders, somebody who can bat as well. Somebody like a Naman Dhir, who's more of a batter but who can come in and bowl two or three overs. Axar Patel, who can bowl his four overs," he said.

Gavaskar also pointed out how the management is getting carried away in trying to find a replacement for Hardik Pandya, who arguably is the only player to be equally efficient with both the bat and the ball.

"We sometimes get a little bit carried away with trying to find a replacement for Hardik Pandya. Hardik Pandya is irreplaceable. If you can't find somebody of his calibre, then go with somebody who will do a slightly different job.

"Naman Dhir is doing that job. He's bowling his overs well, and look at the way he batted in this game. So, I think that is what India need to do because the moment you go with batting up to number eight, you weaken your bowling, and that's where you get beaten," the India cricket legend said.

On the same panel discussion, former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara also had a few inputs to share on India's bowling unit. He stressed the importance of identifying the spin combination going forward.

"You will have to identify players and continue backing them. If the boundary size is small, Kuldeep may not play every game. So, you also need to give the players clarity that they will continue to be part of the Indian team. They may or may not be part of the playing XI regularly, but they are there in the larger setup. That is the message that needs to be communicated to the spinners especially because they can lose confidence pretty quickly in a shorter format. If you concede 40 to 50 runs in your four-over spell, you start to lose confidence, and that has happened with Kuldeep in the past. So, after Varun, it's important to identify your spinners, whether it's Kuldeep or Ravi Bishnoi. Bishnoi hasn't been bowling really well, so we might have to look at another option. It's important to identify whom you want to see in the team over the next couple of years and try to give them enough opportunities," he said.

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