Ahead of India’s T20 World Cup semi-final against England at the Wankhede Stadium, legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar has made a strong tactical recommendation. Gavaskar suggested that Jasprit Bumrah should bowl at least two overs in the powerplay instead of being introduced later, as is often the case.

He argued that dismissing England’s explosive top order—Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, and Harry Brook—early could effectively break the backbone of their batting lineup. Gavaskar noted that by the fifth over, batters are usually settled, making it harder for bowlers to make an immediate impact.

Backing his point with statistics, he highlighted Bumrah’s success in the powerplay during the tournament. Gavaskar also explained Bumrah’s unpredictability, comparing his mystery to tennis great Boris Becker’s readable serve, saying Bumrah gives no cues to batters. With India led by Suryakumar Yadav, the decision on how to deploy Bumrah could prove decisive in determining whether India advances to another World Cup final.