The legendary Sunil Gavaskar has praised India's Champions Trophy victory, claiming that it just emphasizes the team's depth and unrivaled bench strength. He added that since India won the title without Jasprit Bumrah, proved that no one was indispensable.
Under skipper Rohit Sharma, Team India won their second ICC title in a row, defeating New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final last Sunday for the third time.
The fact that India won despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah was notable. When the star India pacer was ruled out of the Champions Trophy, it raised concerns that their chances were badly harmed.
However, the team showed no signs of nervousness and made the brave decision to add Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy to their squads, who went on to contribute significantly to the team's victory.
Gavaskar is particularly thrilled with India's turnaround following the Australia tour catastrophe. To overcome the painful 1-3 defeat Down Under and immediately reassemble to win the Champions Trophy demonstrates how good this Indian team is, Bumrah or no Bumrah, according to the Little Master.
"India's win in the Champions Trophy was one sweet win, especially after the disappointing Test series loss to Australia a month or so earlier. For a team that had won the first Test of the series in such style to cave in and lose three out of the next four Test matches was not really a proper indication of the strength of the team," he wrote in his column for The Mid-day.
"Very seldom has a team depended on one individual like the Indians depended on Jasprit Bumrah in Australia and his absence from the bowling attack to defend the small target set by India tilted the scales Australia’s way and they won the final Test and with it the series,” he added.
India put behind their Australia debacle quickly and focused on preparation for the Champions Trophy and was ruthless against England in the 3-ODI series.
India began by beating Bangladesh in the opening game of the Champions Trophy in Dubai with Harshit Rana taking 3/31. Then against Pakistan, Varun Chakaravarthy took 5/32 against New Zealand and cemented his place in the XI.
Gavaskar couldn't be more pleased with all that he's seen of this team.
"For the Indian team to bounce back the way they did with comprehensive wins in the ODI and T20 series against England that was played on the team’s return to India tells volumes of the talent that Indian cricket has. Those wins, as also the triumph in the Champions Trophy and that too without Bumrah, also emphasizes that nobody is indispensable in this game," added Gavaskar.
"In the past too, India has won without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, but there’s not the slightest doubt that their presence in the team gives the team an even more invincible look. It is good to see so many overseas cricketers now coming up and saying India would have won anyway wherever they played and not only because they were stationed in Dubai," he concluded.
