Sunil Gavaskar, the former Indian great, has recommended replacing the out-of-form Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for India's next match. As India prepares to face New Zealand this Sunday in a Dubai-based Super 12 fixture, Gavaskar believes the coaching staff should consider integrating Ishan Kishan and Shardul Thakur into the lineup.
Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar suggested two worthy changes for out-of-form Hardik Pandya and struggling Bhuvneshwar Kumar for team India’s upcoming match. India will play against New Zealand in a super 12 game on Sunday in Dubai. Gavaskar said the Indian team management should think and consider bringing in Ishan Kishan and Shardul Thakur into the playing XI.
The call for change comes after a poor opening performance from both Pandya and Bhuvneshwar. Pandya struggled with the bat, scoring just 8 runs from 11 balls, and Bhuvneshwar was ineffective with the ball, giving away 25 runs in 3 overs without a wicket. Because of this, Gavaskar feels that the momentum and form of Ishan Kishan and Shardul Thakur make them better options for the team right now.
Kishan's recent T20 form has been outstanding, highlighted by a half-century and a dominant, unbeaten 70 against England in a warm-up match. Shardul Thakur also comes with strong credentials from his time with the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, where he played a key role in their victory by taking 21 wickets over 16 games at an average of 25.09, consistently providing the breakthroughs India needs.
The legendary batsman emphasized that while changes are needed, India should avoid making too many to prevent appearing rattled. On the injury front, Hardik Pandya has finally started bowling again during Dubai training sessions after a long hiatus. While he showed some promise, it's still unclear if he can handle a full workload consistently. The 'Men in Blue' now face a critical match against New Zealand, where a victory is essential to secure a spot in the semi-finals.