India's B Team Poses Significant Challenge for Pakistan: Sunil Gavaskar's Critical Assessment of Champions Trophy Hosts' Struggles

India's B Team Poses Significant Challenge for Pakistan: Sunil Gavaskar's Critical Assessment of Champions Trophy Hosts' Struggles

2 months ago | 5 Views

Pakistan may be on the brink of significant reforms within their cricketing framework following their recent defeat to India, which has effectively jeopardized their prospects in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Renowned Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has voiced his astonishment at the apparent lack of depth in the men's first team, especially given the country's rich history of nurturing exceptional talent.

Throughout the two matches played in the tournament they are hosting, Pakistan has rarely appeared competitive, suffering a 60-run loss to New Zealand and a six-wicket defeat to India. Gavaskar remarked that, in their current state, Pakistan would find it challenging to prevail even against a second-string Indian team. "I believe a B team could certainly pose a significant challenge to Pakistan. As for a C team, I am uncertain. However, a B team would be exceedingly difficult for Pakistan to overcome in their present form," Gavaskar stated during an appearance on Sports Today.

In their match against India in Dubai, Pakistan batted first and managed to score 241 runs before being all out in 49.4 overs. India successfully chased the target in 42.3 overs, with Virat Kohli achieving an unbeaten century off 111 balls. The subsequent victory of New Zealand over Bangladesh the following day confirmed Pakistan's exit from the Champions Trophy at the group stage.

'Quite surprising that nothing went their way'

Gavaskar emphasized that the lack of aggression from Pakistan's batsmen significantly impacted their performance. "When Mohammad Rizwan faced his first ball and struck a boundary, I anticipated a shift in their strategy, as prior to that, their approach was merely to nudge the ball around. However, there was no change in their tactics. Before they realized it, the Indian spinners were completing their overs swiftly. It was quite unexpected that things did not go in their favor," he remarked.

The absence of regular opener Fakhar Zaman was detrimental to Pakistan's efforts. He was substituted by a struggling Imam-ul-Haq, who managed only 10 runs off 26 balls before being run out. Additionally, they were missing Saim Ayub. Both Fakhar and Ayub are recognized as Pakistan's most dynamic batsmen, and Gavaskar expressed his astonishment at the lack of adequate replacements for these players.

"It is indeed surprising to witness this deficiency in bench strength. Pakistan has historically possessed natural talent. By 'natural,' I mean that while they may not always adhere to technical correctness, they possess an instinctive grasp of the game. Take Inzamam-ul-Haq, for instance. His stance would not be recommended for a young batsman, yet his temperament was exceptional. That temperament compensated for any technical flaws," Gavaskar stated.

"It is astonishing that Pakistan has not been able to cultivate such talents recently. They also have the Pakistan Super League. How has India managed to produce numerous young stars in white-ball cricket? The answer lies in the IPL. Players from the IPL have progressed to play in the Ranji Trophy and ultimately for India. This is an aspect that Pakistan cricket must scrutinize. They need to understand why they no longer possess the bench strength they once had," Gavaskar concluded.

Read Also: Security Concerns for Champions Trophy 2025: Reports of Kidnapping Threats Against Foreign Nationals in Pakistan

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