'Playing A Big Team Like NZ In Couple Of Days': Gavaskar Weighs On If Bumrah Should Have Been Rested

Gavaskar noted that the only point of debate might have been whether to rest their pace spearhead, Bumrah, to ensure he's fresh for a more challenging encounter against New Zealand in Dharamsala.

There was considerable discussion surrounding the potential inclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin in India's playing eleven, possibly replacing Shardul Thakur. This discussion was primarily due to the number of left-handed batters in the Bangladesh lineup. However, for their fourth match in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, India decided to stick with an unchanged XI. Sunil Gavaskar, who had expressed frustration over India's decision to exclude Ashwin after the first game, did not have much worry for today’s match.

Gavaskar noted that the only point of debate might have been whether to rest their pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, to ensure he's fresh for a more challenging encounter against New Zealand in Dharamsala in a few days.

"They are playing the same team. The only question would have been that because they are playing a big team like New Zealand in a couple of days' time, whether Bumrah should have been given a break. Obviously, they had three days between the Pakistan game and this match against Bangladesh. They feel that's enough. So it's fine," Gavaskar stated on Star Sports.

India maintained their lineup of six bowling options, just as they did in their matches against Afghanistan and Pakistan. The lead seamers are Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, with all-rounder Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur providing additional medium-pace options. The spin department is managed by Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.

Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian team, expressed his satisfaction with the current XI, stating, "Don't see any reason to change it (the XI). That's important in this WC, keeping everybody in good space. The boys are in good shape, have good mental space as well, and are enjoying the cricket. So far so good, we want to continue this momentum."

With Shakib Al Hasan sidelined due to a quad injury, Bangladesh's stand-in captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, won the toss and chose to bat.

However, the Indian team faced a setback as star all-rounder Hardik Pandya suffered an ankle injury during his first over, causing his departure from the field. Reports from the Indian camp indicated that he would not be able to participate in the field but would remain available to bat. This injury is a cause for concern for Team India, as Pandya plays a crucial role in balancing the side.