Legendary cricketer, Sunil Gavaskar, has sparked major debate before the final match of the T20 World Cup 2026 when he expressed that he would drop young opener, Abhishek Sharma, from the Indian side to face New Zealand in the final match.
The T20 World Cup 2026 final will take place on 8 March at the famous Narendra Modi Stadium with India trying to win another World Cup title.
Gavaskar is of the opinion that the Indian team may need a new look in order to increase their chances of defeating New Zealand in the final.
Gavaskar Questions Abhishek Sharma’s Approach in the Tournament
Gavaskar isn’t impressed with Abhishek Sharma’s performance in the T20 World Cup 2026. People had big hopes for him, but he just hasn’t lived up to the hype.
He’s only scored 89 runs so far, with a rough average of 12.71, and three times he’s walked back without scoring. Honestly, if he hadn’t hit that one half-century against Zimbabwe in the Super 8s, his stats would look even worse.
But here’s what really stands out it’s not just the low runs. There’s a clear pattern to how he’s getting out. Bowlers know how to get him. They keep jamming him for room, and he ends up swinging too early, looking for big shots before he’s settled. Opponents have figured him out, and he hasn’t found a way around it yet.
Repeated Dismissals Against Spin Continue to Hurt India
Another issue that Gavaskar brought up was Abhishek's problem with playing spin bowlers. He has actually been out four times to spinners so far in the tournament, which not only reveals his weak spot but also that the opposition has been consistently exploiting it.
This weakness was visible even in India's semifinal against England. Abhishek, who was looking to hit out from the beginning, got out in the very second over when he tried to play an attacking shot against the spinner Will Jacks, scoring only 9.
“It's a very tough call. Abhishek Sharma is the No. 1 batter in the ICC T20 rankings. But, he hasn't learned from his dismissals. He keeps getting out in the same region where his arms are cramped for room,” Gavaskar stated in India Today.
Gavaskar Suggests Rinku Singh as the Replacement
Gavaskar thinks Rinku Singh would be a great candidate if India makes changes to the starting lineup in the tournament.
Gavaskar referred to Rinku's warm temperament and ability to finish matches under pressure as key examples of how he has earned a good reputation for producing results in high-pressure moments. In addition, Gavaskar pointed to Rinku's "God's Plan" tattoo as an indication of his self-confidence and a positive approach to life.
Gavaskar suggested reshuffling India's top-order batting. He would select Ishan Kishan as the opening batsman to partner with Sanju Samson, which would create more consolidation in the middle order.
This type of change would give India a more balanced batting group leading up to their high-pressure final.
Gavaskar Also Recommends Bowling Change Before the Final
Besides talking about batting tweaks, Gavaskar didn’t hold back on India’s bowling setup either. He thinks it’s time for the team to swap out Varun Chakravarthy and give Kuldeep Yadav a shot.
Varun’s got a big reputation; he’s one of the top T20 bowlers right now. But lately, he just hasn’t looked the same. In the semifinal, he leaked over 60 runs in just four overs and really ramped up the pressure on the rest of the bowling attack.
Kuldeep, on the other hand, can really turn the ball and has a knack for outsmarting batters in those tricky middle overs. Against a steady New Zealand lineup, that kind of skill could be exactly what India needs.
India Face a Selection Dilemma Before the Final
The T20 World Cup 2026 final is only a few hours away, and India team management has to make a crucial decision. It will be a daring move to bench a top, notch batter like Abhishek Sharma, yet Gavaskar feels that tactical changes might be needed in a match of such importance.
India either will continue with their present line, up or make last, minute changes; however, the New Zealand final will be an exciting match at Narendra Modi Stadium.
Currently, the discussion initiated by Gavaskar has raised the excitement level for one of the most, awaited matches of the tournament.
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