India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s surprising decision to bat at number 11 in Friday’s Asia Cup 2025 clash against Oman sparked contrasting reactions from Sunil Gavaskar and his son, Rohan Gavaskar. After opting to bat first, India posted 188/8, with Suryakumar padded up at the very end but never required to face a ball. Prior to this match, Yadav had never batted below number five in T20Is.
While promoting the likes of Sanju Samson and Hardik Pandya made strategic sense, sending tailenders Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav ahead of himself raised eyebrows. Rohan Gavaskar, who represented India briefly, was critical.
“What doesn’t register with me is, if Suryakumar isn’t going to bat because he’s sent Arshdeep, Harshit, and Kuldeep ahead, then he might as well take a rest,” Rohan Gavaskar told India Today. “Give Rinku Singh a chance. You’re not going to bat or contribute with the ball, so why not let someone else play?”
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Senior Gavaskar, however, defended the unorthodox move, emphasizing Suryakumar’s innovative mindset. “If he had batted even for one over, he could have hit a few fours and sixes. But the way he played against Pakistan, perhaps he didn’t need batting practice. He may have sent in Kuldeep Yadav to ensure India had batting depth in case of early wickets,” Sunil explained.
He added, “Suryakumar is a very unorthodox thinker. In Sri Lanka, he bowled and gave Rinku Singh the ball, turning the game around. He is an innovative strategist, and that may explain why he chose not to bat and sent Kuldeep and Arshdeep ahead.”
Oman provided some resistance in the second innings but fell short by 21 runs. With India already securing a Super Four berth, Suryakumar’s bold decision highlighted his tactical flexibility. The Men in Blue will face Pakistan again on Sunday, setting the stage for another high-stakes clash in the 2025 Asia Cup.
This episode not only showcased Suryakumar’s unconventional approach but also sparked a healthy debate on balancing innovation, match situations, and opportunities for bench players in India’s T20 setup.
