Adil Rashid's Batting Position Questioned by Gavaskar
Gavaskar's comments have sparked a debate about England's batting strategy, with many questioning the decision to bat Rashid so low in the order. The team's inability to capitalize on Rashid's batting capabilities has been cited as a key factor in their defeat, and it remains to be seen how they will adjust their approach in future games.
Sunil Gavaskar and Wasim Akram have criticized England's decision to bat Adil Rashid at No. 9 in the Champions Trophy 2025 match against Afghanistan, suggesting that his proven batting capabilities were underutilized in the crucial game.
England's defeat marked their second successive loss to Afghanistan in a 50-over ICC tournament, and their seventh loss in their last eight ODIs. Rashid, who has 11 first-class centuries, was sent in to bat with 17 runs needed off 13 balls and two wickets remaining, but scored only 5 runs off 7 balls. Gavaskar questioned if Rashid's batting order was correct, given his impressive record, and suggested he should be opening the batting.
Gavaskar also took a jibe at England batter Harry Brook, who had previously complained about the smog in Kolkata during the T20I series against India. Brook scored 25 runs off 21 balls in the match, contributing little to England's chase of 326. The defeat was sealed when Rashid was dismissed on the penultimate ball, leaving England 8 runs short of the target.
Gavaskar further advised England's Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton to focus on their team's performance instead of criticizing India's advantage in the Champions Trophy 2025. He highlighted India's contribution to world cricket in terms of quality, revenue, and talent, and reminded the former cricketers that their salaries depend on India's earnings.
The criticism from Gavaskar and Akram has raised questions about England's team strategy and player utilization, and the team will need to regroup and reassess their approach to improve their performance in future tournaments.
