Hey everyone, welcome back to the blog! If you are a cricket fan like me, your heart is probably beating really fast right now. We are right on the edge of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 final! India is getting ready to face off against New Zealand in the ultimate title clash. The match is happening this Sunday at the massive Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The excitement is through the roof, but right before this huge game, cricket legend and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has dropped a massive truth bomb that has everyone talking.

He has come out and strongly suggested that the team management needs to make some big, tough changes to the playing XI. And the biggest name on his list to be dropped? Our star opener, Abhishek Sharma. Let’s dive deep into exactly what Gavaskar said, why he said it, and all the details from the latest news. Grab a cup of coffee, because we have a lot to discuss before Sunday!

The Struggle of Abhishek Sharma

Let’s be honest with ourselves for a second. We all love Abhishek Sharma, but he has had a very, very difficult campaign in this tournament. When you are opening the batting for India in a World Cup, the pressure is huge, and sadly, the runs just haven't been coming for him.

If we look at his numbers, they tell a pretty sad story. Out of all his matches, he has crossed the 50-run mark only one single time. The left-handed batter has been having a really hard time, especially against spin bowling. In fact, he has been dismissed by spinners on four different occasions in this tournament alone! Opposing teams have figured out his weakness, and they are increasingly bringing on spin bowlers during the powerplay overs just to target him.

His struggles continued in the big semi-final match against England. In that game, he managed to score only nine runs off seven balls before he was sent back to the pavilion by Will Jacks in the second over. This was just another short stay at the crease in what has been a really long, lean run. Just look at his scores in the tournament so far: 0, 0, 0, 15, 55, 10, and 9. That gives him a total of only 89 runs in the entire tournament, with a very low average of just 12.71. For a World Cup opener, those numbers are definitely a cause for worry.

What Did Sunil Gavaskar Exactly Say?

Sunil Gavaskar did not hold back when talking to India Today about this issue. He knows it is not an easy choice, but he feels it is a necessary one.

"It’s a very tough call," Gavaskar said. "Abhishek Sharma is the No. 1 batter in the ICC T20 rankings, but he hasn't learned from his dismissals. He keeps getting out in the same region where his arms are cramped for room. Bowlers are targeting that area and forcing mistakes. My concern is that he either hasn't adjusted yet or is unable to change his approach."

That is a very fair point from the legend. Being the number one ranked batter in the world is an amazing achievement, but in a World Cup final, past rankings do not matter. What matters is who can score runs on that specific day. Gavaskar is worried that Abhishek is making the same mistakes over and over again and isn't fixing his technique to stop bowlers from trapping him.

The Big Batting Fix: Enter Rinku Singh

So, if head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav decide to drop Abhishek, what is the plan? Gavaskar has a very clear idea of what India’s think tank should do.

He suggests that Ishan Kishan should be promoted up the order to open the batting alongside Sanju Samson. This would give India a fresh, aggressive opening pair. But the biggest change? Gavaskar wants Rinku Singh brought into the playing XI to replace Abhishek.

"I would like to see Ishan Kishan open the batting with Sanju Samson, with Rinku Singh coming into the side," Gavaskar added. He also pointed out something really cool about Rinku. "Rinku has that belief you've probably seen the 'God's Plan' tattoo on his body and sometimes things just work out for players like him."

I totally agree with this! Rinku Singh brings such a positive, fearless energy to the field. He has that finisher mindset, and having him in the middle order could be exactly what India needs if we lose early wickets against New Zealand.

It’s Not Just the Batting: The Bowling Shuffle

Gavaskar’s advice did not stop with the batters. He also took a hard look at our bowling department and suggested another major change. He has urged the team management to drop out-of-form spinner Varun Chakaravarthy and replace him with the left-arm wrist spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, for the final match.

There’s more to life than simply increasing its speed.

By Udaipur Freelancer

Varun’s performances have been raising a lot of concerns, especially in the later stages of this tournament. His numbers have been quite expensive. He returned bowling figures of 1/47 against South Africa, 1/35 against Zimbabwe, and a massive 1/60 against the West Indies.

Then came the tough semi-final against England. Varun had a really hard time, conceding 46 runs in his four overs. The craziest part of that match was when England's Jacob Bethell launched an absolute assault on him, scoring 42 runs off just 13 balls against the mystery spinner.

Since the start of the Super Eight stage, Varun has really struggled to keep the opposition batters quiet, holding a very high economy rate of 11.42. Because of this, his spot in the team is under heavy scrutiny. Now, it is true that bowling coach Morne Morkel has backed Varun to regain his form, but Gavaskar strongly believes that India needs to be brave and make a decisive change before the title clash.

Why Kuldeep Yadav Makes Sense

Gavaskar explained his reasoning for wanting Kuldeep to play, and it makes perfect sense when you think about where the match is being played.

"The other change I would consider is bringing in Kuldeep Yadav. Varun Chakaravarthy's confidence looks shattered at the moment," Gavaskar stated. "Since the Super Eight stage, when he faced stronger teams, he has struggled and conceded a lot of runs. At a ground like the Narendra Modi Stadium, with big boundaries, Kuldeep Yadav could be a good option because he can turn the ball even on flat surfaces."

Playing at the Narendra Modi Stadium is a unique challenge. The boundaries are big, and the pitch can sometimes be flat. You need a bowler who doesn't just rely on the pitch, but who can spin the ball with his own skill. Kuldeep Yadav is known for turning the ball on any surface, and those big boundaries could help him get wickets if batters try to hit him in the air.

What Will Team India Do?

So, there you have it, guys. Sunil Gavaskar wants Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakaravarthy out, and Rinku Singh and Kuldeep Yadav in. When a legend like Sunny G speaks, everyone listens. But at the end of the day, the final decision lies with Coach Gambhir and Captain Surya.

Will they trust their out-of-form players one last time on the biggest stage of them all? Or will they take Gavaskar's advice and make these bold changes for the final against New Zealand?

It is a massive risk either way. If you drop your number one ranked batter and you lose, people will question the change. If you keep him and he gets out early again, people will say you should have listened to the experts!

What do you guys think? Should India drop Abhishek and Varun for the World Cup Final? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and let's cheer for Team India this Sunday! Bring the cup home, boys!