Gautam Gambhir’s philosophy of prioritizing batting depth in T20 cricket remains a defining feature of his coaching ideology, and it is a strategy he is unlikely to abandon, as confirmed by assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate. This approach was once again evident during India's third T20I against England, where the team management made a conscious effort to maintain a left-right batting combination, leading to the controversial decision of placing specialist batter Dhruv Jurel at No. 8, behind a string of all-rounders that included Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel.
The tactical move has sparked intense debate among analysts and fans, with many questioning the logic behind demoting a recognized batter so far down the order. Jurel, who struggled to make an impact in the second and third T20Is with scores of just 4 and 2, might find himself replaced by Rinku Singh, who has recovered from his fitness issues. However, Ten Doeschate has firmly defended the team’s strategy, explaining that Gambhir’s teams have always been structured around batting depth, even if it means adjusting the natural positions of certain players. He emphasized that the Indian team management is focused on providing players with extended opportunities to showcase their abilities, believing that in the medium to long term, this approach will yield results.
The debate surrounding the strategy intensified when Sundar was sent ahead of Jurel after Tilak Varma’s dismissal in the eighth over. The move did not pay off, as Sundar failed to make an impact, scoring just six runs off five deliveries before falling to Jamie Overton. The decision to promote an all-rounder over a recognized batter raised concerns about whether the team's batting order was optimized for the situation. Following Sundar’s dismissal, Axar Patel joined Hardik Pandya in the middle, but their partnership failed to provide the necessary acceleration. Axar managed only 15 runs, while Pandya played a more substantial knock of 40 before losing his wicket in the penultimate over.
By the time Jurel finally got a chance to bat, the game had already slipped away from India's grasp. The timing of his entry into the game has led many to question whether Gambhir’s insistence on maintaining batting depth is undermining key players' effectiveness in crucial situations. Some experts argue that while having a deep batting lineup is beneficial, it should not come at the cost of properly utilizing specialist batters who can handle pressure situations better than lower-order all-rounders.
With the T20 World Cup approaching, India’s team management will have to carefully evaluate whether Gambhir’s strategy of prioritizing depth over a traditional batting order is sustainable against stronger opposition. The ongoing discussion now centers on whether India should rethink their batting order for the remainder of the series or continue to back Gambhir’s approach, trusting that it will prove successful in the long run. The next few games will be crucial in determining whether the team management sticks to its guns or makes the necessary adjustments to find the right balance between depth and efficiency.
