Sunil Gavaskar has expressed concern over India's T20 International batting approach during the West Indies series in October 2026. The former India captain believes the current squad structure of eight batters is weakening the team's bowling unit and costing them matches.
According to Gavaskar's assessment, West Indies scored 200 or more runs in three of the four innings during the series, highlighting the vulnerability of India's bowling attack. The cricket legend has now outlined a specific formula he believes India must adopt to address this structural problem.
"India have to play with at least 4 regular bowlers, and a 5th and 6th bowling all-rounders who can bat as well, possibly Axar Patel and Naman Dhir. I think sometimes we get carried away trying to find a replacement for Hardik Pandya. Hardik is irreplaceable," Gavaskar said as quoted by India Today.
"If you cannot find someone of his calibre, then go with somebody who will do a different job. Naman Dhir is doing that job. I think that's what India need to do," he added.
The all-rounder solution Gavaskar proposes
The former India opener emphasised that the team should not pursue a direct replacement for Hardik Pandya, who remains irreplaceable in his view. Instead, Gavaskar advocated for identifying all-rounders capable of performing dual roles effectively. He highlighted Naman Dhir as an example of a player who can fulfil this requirement by contributing with both bat and ball.
"Axar Patel is your fifth regular bowler. When you bat up to 8, you weaken your bowling, and that's where you get beaten," Gavaskar said.
The direct link between batting depth and bowling strength became central to Gavaskar's argument. By extending the batting order to eight players, India creates a structural weakness that opposition teams can exploit. Gavaskar's analysis suggested that the West Indies series demonstrated this vulnerability, with the visiting team's consistent ability to score heavily against India's bowling attack.
Gavaskar's recommendation reflects a strategic shift in how India should construct its T20I squads. Rather than seeking a like-for-like replacement for Hardik Pandya, the former India captain believes the team should embrace a different approach by identifying all-rounders capable of performing dual roles effectively. Naman Dhir and Axar Patel represent the type of players Gavaskar believes fit this requirement, offering both bowling depth and batting capability when required.
