Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar, speaking to India Today from Dubai, questioned the team management's decision to send Shivam Dube ahead of captain Suryakumar Yadav in the Super 4 clash against Bangladesh.
00:00Hello and welcome to Desert Storm. Coming to you live from Dubai. We have just witnessed another masterclass from the Indian team. The only team undefeated in the tournament so far. And with this victory versus Bangladesh, which is a massive victory, a victory by 41 runs in T20 cricket. It is a huge, huge margin. India have also become the first team to qualify for the final of Asia Cup 2025.
00:26What that does is leaves Bangladesh in a precarious position. The next match that they have to play in less than 24 hours from now will be a virtual semi-final. That game will be versus Pakistan. The winner then will earn the right to compete with India in the final. Joining us live on our program, the legend in Sunny Gavaskar. Sunny, this Indian team, you know, no matter whatever hiccups they might have because we thought they were having some issues in the batting. In the end, it was a runaway victory by the Indian team.
00:56Yes, easy win by the Indians. I think thanks to the bowlers. And that's where I think India's strength lies in recent times. They've got such variety in bowling and so many options in bowling that they can defend small totals like this as well.
01:08Bangladesh did get off to a decent start, not as bright as India did. India got 70-something in the first six overs. Bangladesh got 44.
01:16But the fact that they got 44 for one meant that they got a nice little platform in which to score the next 120-25 runs to win the game. They weren't able to do it because India's bowlers bowl really, really well.
01:29Talking about India's bowlers, those two standout bowlers for India are a certain Kuldeep Yadav with three wickets and a Jaspreet Bumrah. These are the two bowlers that we were sweating over in that Pakistan game because they're India's number one match winners.
01:42What they've shown us here is that at best they'll have one off day, nothing more than that.
01:46Well, everybody's entitled to an off day. We all know Jaspreet Bumrah is the best bowler in all three formats of the game, test one day and T20s. And he showed that here again today. His rhythm was very good.
01:58You know, against Pakistan, he looked off colour. He looked off colour. You know, sometimes you can have just one of those days off.
02:05Today he was absolutely fine, raring to go, coming and releasing the ball well, good high action, getting the ball to move both ways.
02:12And that first couple of overs that he bowled to the Bangladesh partners, they had little clue as to what was happening.
02:18OK, even Tilak Verma chipping in with a wicket there. So you had enough in your tank left to even give some bowling to part-timers.
02:26Anyway, while it's been another clinical performance by the Indian team, we're going to look at a few problem areas because in the final, you can't afford to slip up at all.
02:33Let's start with that, you know, second half. I think India got their 100 in the first 10 overs.
02:38From there on, just 68 runs only. Where would you put down that trouble to?
02:42I think sometimes, you know, when you're looking to give batters some practice, you tend to move your batting order just that little bit.
02:52But I don't think there should be too much of a change in the batting order.
02:56And that can affect the rhythm of the team. Like everything else, like batting, bowling, you need that rhythm.
03:02Similarly, batting order also needs a rhythm.
03:04Sometimes, occasionally, you can push somebody up to looking at the circumstances.
03:11But to push a finisher at number three, like Dubey, Dubey's a finisher, at maybe five or six.
03:17To send him up the order was a little bit difficult, particularly because you, yourself, as captain, had not scored runs in the previous game.
03:24It was important for you, the captain, to come in and get a few runs.
03:28You came at number four and he got out, so looking to play the same shot again.
03:33And that's a very productive shot for it, no question about it.
03:37But when you're not getting, when you're getting out to that, maybe you should, maybe you should not play it till you've really got a feel of the surface.
03:45You've been moving around.
03:46Then, you know, when you've got maybe 25, 30 runs, then you can, you can come to play that shot.
03:51But I think that is probably one area that India might have just faltered a little bit.
03:58Luckily, the bowlers saved their skin.
04:01One of the biggest reasons that India have been so dominant in this tournament has been the form of Abhishek.
04:07You know, he's been getting those 70 odds consistently and then that's why India has been doing rather well.
04:12But on the flip side, do you think that could be a sign that Indian team needs to be worried about that?
04:18It's only him.
04:19Every time he scores, you're winning.
04:20Everyone else is not really chipping in.
04:22No, I don't think that is the case.
04:23Yes, of course, his contribution is enormous.
04:26But look at the partnerships that he's having with Shubman Gill.
04:29If Shubman was not scoring runs, then there would be an issue.
04:34But because there is a partnership, you know, he can play his game without worrying about what's happening at the other end.
04:39Normally, when things are not going well at the other end, then the batter who's also scoring runs, hitting the ball as well as Abhishek Sharma,
04:47he also starts to fret and think what's happening.
04:50Lots of dot balls happening at the other end.
04:51That's not what's happening.
04:52So it is a team effort.
04:54And yes, I think you would be a little bit concerned about the fact that, you know,
04:59should Surya Kumar Yadav after that first game hasn't really scored runs.
05:03Shivam Dubya hasn't had much.
05:05You've had maybe Sanju Samson also.
05:07But Tilak Farma has got a few runs.
05:09Hardik Pandya batted superbly today.
05:11So those are the two big pluses.
05:12Tilak Farma in the game against Pakistan and Hardik Pandya's form today.
05:16Talking about the big pluses, do you think this is again a blessing in disguise?
05:20You lost the toss today.
05:21You have batted first because people would say,
05:22batting first, you can't win in Dubai.
05:25So at least you prepared for the final.
05:27Any sort of a situation, you're ready for it.
05:29Yes, actually.
05:30This team is ready for anything.
05:32And the final will be a completely different story
05:34because in terms of their attitude, approach, etc.
05:37Maybe they might have relaxed just a little bit against Bangladesh.
05:41In the sense, very confident.
05:43Look at their record against Bangladesh.
05:45It's been a fabulous record.
05:46Similarly, I mean, you can say the same with Pakistan as well.
05:49But Pakistan seems to have a lot more possible match winners than Bangladesh had.
05:55And so defending 168 against Pakistan might not be easy.
06:00While defending 168 against Bangladesh and winning by 40-odd runs just tells you that
06:04Bangladesh just didn't quite have that oomph to take them across the line.
06:08That brings me to my next question.
06:10India through to the final.
06:11Next game, which is going to be in less than, what, 20 hours from now for Bangladesh.
06:15They'll have to be back at this ground playing a virtual semi-final versus Pakistan.
06:19You've seen both teams throughout this tournament.
06:21Who are you picking to win that in Kamta?
06:23Oh, Pakistan.
06:24Pakistan.
06:24Pakistan's got more match winners than Bangladesh.
06:27It's not going to be easy for Bangladesh to play two back-to-back matches.
06:31Because, yeah, today was a pretty good day in terms of heat and humidity.
06:36It wasn't as bad as earlier days.
06:39So, you know, despite that, of course, having played a game today,
06:44it's never easy for another team to come and play back-to-back T20 games.
06:48So, with a kind of attendant pressure playing against India and playing against Pakistan.
06:52So, it'll be a surprise if Bangladesh get through.
06:57But I think Pakistan will just carry too many guns for them.
07:00Last couple of questions coming up.
07:02We have a couple of minutes left with Mr. Gavaskar.
07:04You're watching Desert Storm live on India today.
07:07Again, that one area, which we never thought, you know, Indian team will falter
07:11because they've been so good in the field.
07:13Fielding two matches in a row, you've left a lot of catches.
07:16I think it could be maybe they're not quite...
07:18They may have to field a lot of practice at night
07:22because sometimes, you know, the speed at which the ball falls in the night sky
07:26is sometimes not easy.
07:28Sometimes you tend to close your fingers a little bit earlier.
07:31Sometimes you don't close your fingers.
07:32You think the ball is coming.
07:34And you sometimes miss the ball by about a foot or so.
07:37So, I think that is something that they'll really have to practice.
07:40Never easy.
07:41Also, to take into account that, you know, because of the breeze that is there,
07:44the ball that looks like coming into your hands can move, maybe move somewhere else.
07:49So, I think that means that they'll need to put, over the next couple of days,
07:52tomorrow is a day off for them.
07:54Hopefully, they'll be able to come in and put some hard yards
07:57as far as catching practice is concerned.
07:59They have a day off.
08:00Now, the Sri Lanka game will also be inconsequential for both teams.
08:04Sri Lanka are knocked out.
08:05India are through.
08:06Another opportunity, you would want to rest a few players.
08:09How would you see India go in that particular encounter?
08:12I think only resting just with Bumbra.
08:14That'll be the thing because you saw him, you know, with his rhythm today.
08:18So, he might have looked off-colour against Pakistan.
08:22He's running in well.
08:23He bowled brilliantly today.
08:24Yes, he was carted for a six, but generally, he bowled really well.
08:28So, he would be the only guy that you would want to rest.
08:31Because then he gets Thursday, Friday, Saturday, three days off
08:34before he comes in for the final on Sunday.
08:37Off for the Indian team.
08:38Not too many offs for us here because it's going to be a back-to-back sort of matches for India.
08:43Tomorrow, a crucial game, Pakistan versus Bangladesh.
08:46Then you have, of course, India taking on Sri Lanka.
08:49And then, after a day's gap, it is going to be the final.
08:53But Mr. Gavaskar has to be heading for his broadcast commitment.
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