Gavaskar Counters Doull Claim After India T20I Win
India Seal Series as Commentary Sparks Debate
India’s commanding performance against New Zealand in the third T20 International at Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati, on Sunday drew strong reactions from former cricketers, with a post-match exchange between Sunil Gavaskar and Simon Doull gaining widespread attention.
After restricting New Zealand to 153 for 9, India completed the chase with ease, reaching the target with 10 overs remaining to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Doull Praises India’s Depth
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While analysing the contest on Star Sports, former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull highlighted the depth in India’s T20 setup. He remarked that India had the resources to field two separate teams at the upcoming T20 World Cup, adding that both sides would be strong enough to reach the semi-finals.
The comment reflected the gap between the two teams during the series and India’s consistency across departments.
Gavaskar Adds a Sharp Response
Reacting to Doull’s assessment, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar offered a light-hearted but pointed response. Gavaskar went a step further, stating that if India were to field two teams, both would reach the final of the tournament.
The exchange quickly gained traction, reflecting the growing perception of India’s dominance in the shortest format.
Batting Display Sets the Tone
India’s chase began on a difficult note after Matt Henry dismissed Sanju Samson with the first delivery. However, the setback had little impact as Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma counter-attacked immediately.
The left-handed pair added 53 runs in just 19 balls before Kishan was dismissed for 28 by Ish Sodhi. Abhishek continued the assault, reaching a half-century in 14 balls and finishing unbeaten on 68 off 20 deliveries.
Captain Leads from the Front
Suryakumar Yadav, leading the side, matched Abhishek’s intensity. He scored an unbeaten 57 from 26 balls, registering his second successive half-century of the series.
Together, Abhishek and Suryakumar added an unbroken 102-run partnership, underlining India’s batting depth and control of the contest.
Series Momentum Ahead of Global Events
Abhishek narrowly missed surpassing Yuvraj Singh’s record for India’s fastest T20I fifty, which stands at 12 balls from 2007. Despite that, the performance reinforced India’s status as the world’s top-ranked T20 team.
With the series effectively sealed, the focus now shifts to squad combinations and maintaining momentum ahead of future international assignments.
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