Sunil Gavaskar on Bumrah’s Absence: ‘India Has Won Without Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli Too’

Sunil Gavaskar on Bumrah’s Absence: Sunil Gavaskar is highly impressed with the depth in Indian cricket, insisting that the team is no more reliable on just a few individuals to get the job done.

The ecstatic victory only highlights India's depth and unrivalled bench strength, according to the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, who praised the team's Champions Trophy victory.

India defeated New Zealand in the final last Sunday to win the Champions Trophy for the third time, giving Team India their second ICC title in consecutive years under the captain Rohit Sharma.

Similar to last year's T20 World Cup, India went undefeated throughout, defeating Australia in the semi-final after defeating Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand in the league stage.

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In the summit match, India once again cut the wings of the Kiwis and avenged the Champions Trophy final that was played in Nairobi twenty-five years ago.

However, what stood out about India's win was that they claimed the title despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. When the star India pacer was ruled out of the Champions Trophy, the development sent alarm bells with a belief that their chances were severely dented.

But the team showed no signs of nervousness and made bold calls to include Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy in their squads, who went on to contribute handsomely to the team's win.

Gavaskar is especially pleased with India's turnaround following the disastrous Australia tour. This Indian team's ability to bounce back from the devastating 1-3 loss in Australia and swiftly reassemble to win the Champions Trophy is evidence of how good the Little Master believes they are, Bumrah or no Bumrah.

"India's win in the Champions Trophy was one sweet win, especially after the disappointing Test series loss to Australia a month or so earlier. For a team that had won the first Test of the series in such style to cave in and lose three out of the next four Test matches was not really a proper indication of the strength of the team," he wrote in his column for The Mid-day.

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"Very seldom has a team depended on one individual like the Indians depended on Jasprit Bumrah in Australia and his absence from the bowling attack to defend the small target set by India tilted the scales Australia’s way and they won the final Test and with it the series."

India returned from Australia without wasting any time. They knew they only had three ODIs against England to prepare for the Champions Trophy, so coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma started to work. The Men in Blue were able to defeat England 3-0 at home, giving them the confidence they needed to enter the Champions Trophy.

'India's win without Bumrah emphasises that nobody is indispensable'

India dominated every team that stood in their way in the championship match, playing like champions. Before Chakaravarthy took his position, Rana selected 3/31 against Bangladesh and 1/30 against Pakistan. And it proved to be quite a move. In the league match, the spinner's 5/52 against New Zealand guaranteed him a spot in the knockout stages, and the rest, as they say, is history. Gavaskar is really happy with everything he has observed about this team.

"For the Indian team to bounce back the way they did with comprehensive wins in the ODI and T20 series against England that were played on the team’s return to India tells volumes of the talent that Indian cricket has. Those wins, as also the triumph in the Champions Trophy and that too without Bumrah, also emphasises that nobody is indispensable in this game," added Gavaskar.

"In the past too, India has won without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, but there’s not the slightest doubt that their presence in the team gives the team an even more invincible look. It is good to see so many overseas cricketers now coming up and saying India would have won anyway wherever they played and not only because they were stationed in Dubai."

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