Sunil Gavaskar: Only a Rare Off-Day Can Bring This Indian Team Down

India is aiming to achieve a clean sweep in their T20 series against New Zealand, thereby sending a strong message to the global cricketing community that they are fully prepared to defend their 2024 ICC World Cup title. It’s not just the victories, but the commanding nature of these wins, that has other teams’ coaches and analysts puzzled about how to counter what appears to be an unstoppable force.

However, in this shortest format of cricket, a single good over in either inning can alter the course of a match, so nothing is certain. Yet, the Indian team is playing exceptional cricket, and it would take a significant off-day for them to be overcome.

Their decisive victory in Guwahati highlighted why this team is so formidable. It was a near-perfect performance. The bowling was exceptional, and the fielding, led by former captain Hardik Pandya’s exemplary catch, was top-notch. The overall ground fielding, throwing, and backing up were of championship caliber. During the chase, despite losing Sanju Samson on the first ball, the aggressive counter-attacks by left-handers Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan were impressive, making even quality deliveries look inadequate. The bowlers seemed unsure of what lines or lengths to bowl, as even the robust boundaries of Guwahati Stadium were no obstacle.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav, having achieved a classy half-century in the previous game, continued his fine form, consistently finding the middle of the bat and placing shots precisely.

As a captain, Yadav is instinctive and composed, which allows his teammates to feel encouraged to play with confidence. While setting fields for good balls is relatively straightforward, SKY demonstrates a unique ability to set fields even for poor deliveries, ensuring that catches are taken with minimal adjustments.

Historically, India and Pakistan are placed in the same group during World Cups to guarantee a matchup, often in groups that are easier to navigate into the next round. The real challenge is likely to begin in the subsequent stages of the tournament. Yet, in this unpredictable format, teams need only a stellar over in each inning to turn things around. This was evident when the USA defeated Pakistan in the last ICC T20 World Cup, showcasing the impact of gaining experience and learning from playing alongside top players in Major League Cricket. Such experiences reduce the intimidation players from emerging teams may feel and provide invaluable learning from cricketing stalwarts.

As reigning champions, India is determined to make history by being the first team to successfully defend a T20 World Cup title. The path won’t be easy, with strong competition from teams like Australia and South Africa, whose players are fresh from their domestic T20 leagues.

The tournament is poised to be thrilling, reminiscent of the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, when India triumphed over Pakistan in a nail-biting final.

Published on Jan 26, 2026.