“It can't be reckless it's got to be calculated aggression” - Sunil Gavaskar cautions Indian batters ahead of Pakistan clash

The former Indian cricketer and commentator Sunil Gavaskar has cautioned the Indian team ahead of their marquee clash against Pakistan in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026, on Sunday, February 15, in Colombo.

Speaking exclusively to India Today, Gavaskar asserted that the Indian batters need to take up calculated risks and reduce their reckless batting approach to enhance their winning chances over their arch-rivals in the much-awaited clash.

"Look, it can't be reckless. It's got to be calculated aggression, and that's what we've seen so far. Yes, occasionally it goes wrong, but I think it's a calculated aggression that is important. For example, I think you've got 12 runs in the over, you've hit two or three sixes—two sixes and maybe another boundary. And then now the fielders have been moved a little bit. You do not go to try and take that challenge where you want to go over the fielder and get out, because that's silly," Gavaskar told India Today.

Furthermore, Gavaskar also reckoned that the all-rounder Washington Sundar should come into the playing XI, giving India an additional boost with spin and willow lower down the batting order at No. 8.

"I said yesterday that I'd like to see Washington Sundar in the team because of the fact that Premadasa has been helping spinners. So yes, I think an additional spinner—but somebody like Washington Sundar can bat down the order as well, who can bat at number eight, you know, give it the thrust in the last two or three overs," he added.

India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.

Pakistan squad: Salman Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.

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