Sunil Gavaskar has raised concerns about India's approach to squad construction in T20 International cricket, pointing to a structural weakness that he believes is costing the team matches. The former India captain's assessment centres on the balance between batting and bowling resources in the current setup under head coach Gautam Gambhir, who took charge of the men's team in July 2024.
His comments came in the context of India's recent T20I series against West Indies, where the visitors chased down 249 runs in 18.3 overs to secure a six-wicket victory in the second match at Ranchi on October 9, 2026, levelling the five-match series at 1-1.
"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," Gavaskar said on JioStar.
"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 added.
Why India needs four specialist bowlers and two all-rounders
Gavaskar identified the core issue with India's current squad structure in T20 Internationals. He believes that selecting eight batters in the playing eleven creates an imbalance that directly undermines the team's bowling strength. The cricket legend explained how this structural flaw has manifested in recent matches against West Indies.
"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," he noted.
"When you bat up to 8, you weaken your bowling, and that's where you get beaten," Gavaskar explained, highlighting the direct consequence of the current batting-heavy approach.
On the same panel discussion, former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara also contributed his perspective on India's bowling unit. Pujara stressed the importance of identifying the correct spin combination and ensuring that spinners have clarity on their role within the Indian team setup going forward.
