Yuvraj is needed in ICC World T20, says Gavaskar
Former India skipper says India need to be patient with all-rounder.
New Delhi: Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar feels India should retain the same playing eleven in the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 that whitewashed Australia 3-0 on Sunday in the three-match series of the game's shortest format.
"This is the playing eleven that I would like to see in the World Twenty20," said Gavaskar when asked about his take on India's World T20 squad.
India produced an inspired performance to record their highest run-chase ever on Australian soil as they pulled off a dramatic last ball seven wicket victory in the third and final Twenty20 International to achieve a rare 3-0 clean sweep against Australia in Sydney.
The win also promoted Mahendra Singh Dhoni's boys to the top of the ICC T20 rankings and they now lead the table in the shortest and the longest format.
Suresh Raina (49 not out) and comeback man Yuvraj Singh (15 not out) kept their cool as they blasted the required 17 runs off the final over to chase down a mammoth target of 198 set by Australia.
And Gavaskar said Yuvraj should be an integral part of India's World T20 team.
"Yuvraj gets wickets in Australia. On the sub-continent, he has to be part of the eleven,” he added.
"Yuvraj has not lost his power. He is a plus. India must be patient with him. When Yuvraj got going, he delivered. We have done a bit of Swachh Australia," he added.
Gavaskar was also full of praise for Raina, who according to him is the one of the best readers of T20 format.
"In T20, there are no better readers of the format than Suresh Raina," he said.
"The way Raina and Yuvraj held their nerve is commendable. The balance of the team is good. The Sydney win was big. Chasing 200 is never easy."