Gautam Gambhir Defends India’s Batting Strategy After 3-0 Series Win Against England

India’s dominant 3-0 ODI series sweep over England reaffirmed their strength in home conditions, but one tactical decision in the batting order sparked debate. In two of India’s successful run chases, all-rounder Axar Patel was promoted up the order, limiting KL Rahul’s time at the crease. This move, seemingly driven by head coach Gautam Gambhir’s preference for a right-left batting combination, became a talking point among commentators and analysts.

Addressing the criticism, Gambhir defended the strategy, emphasizing that adaptability in the batting order is key to modern cricket.

“That’s the way cricket is meant to be played,” Gambhir stated during a press conference. “I know a lot of people talk about it, but that’s the way we got to play the game, and that’s the way cricket should be played. It’s not about the batting order; it’s about who can create what impact. If you have the option of putting a quality left-hand batter in the middle, why wouldn’t you do that?”

Gambhir stressed that his approach is not dictated by traditional statistics or averages but rather by the impact a player can have in a particular situation.

“Why would you want to have a top five consisting only of right-handers? We don’t look at averages and stats and all that stuff. We look at who can deliver more at that number. And Axar has done fabulously well. In both games in which he got the opportunity, he delivered for us,” Gambhir explained. “I know there will always be talk, but this is the direction we want to take moving forward.”

The head coach also pointed out that this approach enhances India’s batting depth while maintaining a well-balanced team composition.

“If Axar is batting at five, it only lengthens the batting lineup, with KL [Rahul] at six, Hardik [Pandya] at seven, and Jaddu [Ravindra Jadeja] at eight,” Gambhir said. “Jaddu is a world-class batter, and I don’t think you can consider him a tail-ender. If you can bat till number eight, it’s always a great luxury, plus we have six quality bowling options. We just wanted a left-hander in the middle to break the top five right-handers.”

While the move has sparked mixed reactions, Gambhir remains confident that a flexible batting order will serve India well in the long run. With major tournaments ahead, including the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, it remains to be seen whether this strategy will become a permanent fixture in India’s game plan.

As India prepares for their Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh on February 20, all eyes will be on how the team balances its batting lineup and whether Gambhir’s tactical adjustments continue to shape India’s approach in crucial matches.