Sunil Gavaskar Urges Indian Team to Enhance Chase Strategy Ahead of Decider

As the Indian cricket team gears up for the fifth T20I against the West Indies, Sunil Gavaskar stresses the importance of refining their chasing strategy. He highlights the need for batters to take more responsibility and the inexperience of the bowling lineup. With the series tied at 2-2, the upcoming match at M Chinnaswamy Stadium promises to be a thrilling decider. Gavaskar's insights shed light on the team's performance and the challenges they face, urging them to step up their game to secure a victory.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 16, 2026, 00:22 IST

Gavaskar's Insights on India's Performance

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 15: As the Indian cricket team prepares for the fifth T20I against the West Indies, former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar emphasized the need for the Men in Blue to refine their chasing techniques and for the batters to take greater accountability.

He pointed out the lack of experience within the Indian bowling squad, noting that they can only gain valuable lessons through facing challenges on the field.

The Indian bowlers struggled significantly, allowing West Indies captain Shai Hope to score his fourth century during the tour, supported by aggressive performances from Shimron Hetmyer and Sherfane Rutherford. Despite the initial optimism surrounding India's ability to chase down 248 runs—especially after their successful 250-run chase in the second T20I—the batting lineup faltered, with only Sanju Samson making a notable contribution. A partnership of 70 runs between Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy briefly raised hopes after the top order's collapse, but with Keemo Paul claiming five wickets, India fell short by 23 runs.

During a segment on JioStar 'Cricket Live', Gavaskar stated, 'The primary area for improvement for this Indian team is their chasing ability. On a pitch like this, especially with dew setting in, they should exhibit the dominance expected from a team that has won back-to-back T20 World Cups, which was clearly lacking in this match. Sanju provided a solid start, but the other batters failed to build on it. Abhishek Sharma's performance was below par, and Ishan Kishan fell victim to Keemo Paul's strategy, while Shreyas Iyer has struggled to find form since his century.'

'The batting lineup must take on more responsibility. While the bowling has indeed been subpar, these bowlers are relatively new to international cricket and will need to endure tough situations to learn. For India to secure victory in the decider, they should aim to set a target of 240 to 250 runs and restrict the West Indies to a lower score. Without the batters stepping up, this Indian team will face challenges in achieving success.'

Under Shreyas Iyer's leadership, India has faced defeat in five out of eight matches while chasing totals, including two losses each against Ireland and England.

The series is currently tied at 2-2, with an exciting final match scheduled at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 17.

Shai Hope's impressive innings of 102* off 50 balls, featuring four boundaries and nine sixes, marked his fourth century of the tour, while Keemo Paul’s bowling figures of 5/41 were pivotal. For the West Indies, Shimron Hetmyer contributed 33 runs off 12 balls, and Sherfane Rutherford added 49* off 26 balls, helping the team reach a total of 247/3.

Sanju Samson's quickfire 56 off 22 balls, including six fours and four sixes, set the stage for India, but they struggled to keep pace. A 70-run partnership between Tilak Varma (43 off 25 balls) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (41 off 20 balls) provided a glimmer of hope, but their dismissals dimmed India's chances. Arshdeep Singh had to retire hurt during the final over after sustaining an arm injury, leaving India 25 runs shy of the target.