India head coach Gautam Gambhir recently stirred the debate around batting roles in white-ball cricket by calling batting orders “highly overrated.” Captain Suryakumar Yadav echoed the sentiment, saying that aside from the openers, no player has a fixed spot in India’s T20I lineup. And this isn’t just rhetoric—the management has consistently backed this philosophy with bold on-field decisions.

The latest example came during the second T20I in Mullanpur, when Axar Patel, a lower middle-order regular, was promoted to No. 3 while chasing a massive 214 against South Africa. Axar’s run-a-ball 21 did little to influence the chase, and India eventually folded for 162, losing by 51 runs.

While the promotion alone wasn’t solely responsible for India’s defeat, it certainly raised eyebrows. Former India batter and 2007 T20 World Cup winner Robin Uthappa was among those who questioned the move, criticising the decision to send a “pinch-hitter” ahead of India’s premier batters in a pressure chase.

Speaking on JioHotstar, Robin Uthappa said he disagreed with the current philosophy of floating batting roles. “Honestly, that’s not how I see it. Suryakumar said in the pre-series press conference that the opening pair is set, but everyone else must be flexible. With due respect, I disagree,” he said.

ALSO READ: Vaibhav Suryavanshi Shines With 171 But Misses Double Ton In U19 Asia Cup Opener

“When you’re chasing a big score, your best batters must walk in early. If you send a pinch-hitter, he must play like one. If Axar was sent to pinch-hit today, he shouldn’t be scoring 21 off 21—he should be going hard and getting out trying. But even that logic doesn’t convince me. After losing a wicket early, you need stability. Something feels off, and India must fix it before it becomes a habit.”

Uthappa stressed that India should ensure their best batters occupy the crease in the Powerplay, particularly when chasing. “Your top three must be fixed—whether you’re batting first or chasing. These are specialist roles. Flexibility has its place, but that comes after the first six overs, once a platform is built. You can’t build a foundation when players don’t know their roles,” he added.

With Shubman Gill falling for a duck in the first over, Axar walked in immediately. Uthappa believes Suryakumar should have been the one stepping in at such a moment. He warned that while experimentation is acceptable, overdoing it could prove disastrous during a high-pressure tournament like next year’s T20 World Cup.

ALSO READ: Suryakumar Yadav Backs Axar Patel’s Surprise Promotion After India’s Costly T20I Defeat

“Using a pinch-hitter is fine in the right situation. But sending Axar at No. 3 meant Suryakumar got fewer balls. This constant experimentation has been happening for a while, and I worry it could hurt India at a crucial stage. You don’t want that happening in a World Cup,” he said.

As India prepare for the global event on home soil, finding the perfect balance between flexibility and stability remains a challenge they can’t afford to take lightly.