Suryakumar Yadav Leads India as Gavaskar Urges Abhishek Sharma Dropped
March 7 at 11: 20 a. m. ET — Sunil Gavaskar urged team management to drop Abhishek Sharma for the T20 World Cup final, and Gavaskar named the think tank led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain suryakumar yadav as the decision-makers. What is unresolved is whether India will follow that recommendation before Sunday’s title match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Gavaskar’s call to drop Abhishek Sharma and suggested lineup changes
Confirmed: Sunil Gavaskar publicly recommended removing opener Abhishek Sharma from the playing XI for the final and suggested promoting Ishan Kishan to open alongside Sanju Samson and bringing Rinku Singh into the side in place of Abhishek. Still, Abhishek’s tournament numbers are documented: he has one score above 50 and a sequence of scores of 0, 0, 0, 15, 55, 10 and 9, totaling 89 runs at an average of 12. 71.
Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir’s selection discretion for the final
Confirmed: the team’s selection is described as the responsibility of the think tank led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav. Unconfirmed as of 11: 20 a. m. ET is whether that think tank will act on Gavaskar’s recommendation; no selection change has been announced in the context provided. Yet, Gavaskar specifically named Rinku Singh as the replacement he would prefer if Abhishek were dropped.
Varun Chakravarthy’s form and the Kuldeep Yadav proposal
Confirmed: Varun Chakravarthy’s recent returns have raised concern. His documented figures include 1/47 against South Africa, 1/35 against Zimbabwe and 1/40 against West Indies, and he conceded 64 runs in four overs in the semi-final when Jacob Bethell scored 42 off 13 balls. Unconfirmed as of 11: 20 a. m. ET is whether India will replace Varun with left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav for the final; Gavaskar recommended Kuldeep as an alternative because Kuldeep can turn the ball on flatter surfaces.
Still, there is a counterpoint in the available coverage: another assessment in the context states plainly that there is no question of India leaving Abhishek out if he is fit, calling any move to drop him “no chance. ” That confirmed stance sits in direct tension with Gavaskar’s recommendation and is part of the current public debate over selection.
Yet, selection choices hinge on discrete outcomes and data: Abhishek’s recent dismissals to spin and Varun’s expensive spells since the Super Eight stage — including an overall economy rate of 11. 62 in that period — are the concrete performance signals driving calls for change. The semi-final performances (Abhishek out for nine off seven; Varun 0/64) are confirmed facts shaping the discussion.
Confirmed next event: the T20 World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday will be the immediate trigger that forces a final XI announcement. If Abhishek Sharma is dropped for the final, Gavaskar suggested Rinku Singh would be brought into the side; if the management confirms a change to Varun Chakravarthy’s spot, Gavaskar proposed Kuldeep Yadav as the replacement. The team’s official selection for Sunday will resolve which of these proposals, if any, is implemented.
