India’s bench strength tested in rain‑marred West Indies series, Gavaskar comments

The five‑match T20 series against West Indies turned into a workshop for India’s fringe players, according to cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar. He said the rain‑affected encounters forced the team to rotate bowlers and experiment with new talent.

Gavaskar pointed out that India struggled to generate consistent wickets, which underlined the need for at least four regular bowlers. He urged the inclusion of a fifth and sixth bowler who can also contribute with the bat, citing Naman Dhir and Akshar Patel as examples.

In the final game at Bengaluru, the match was cut short to 9.9 overs after repeated showers. India had reached 118 for 5 in 7.4 overs when Dhir smashed 24 runs in just six balls, hitting three sixes and a four. The rain‑abrupted finish left the series tied at 2‑2, but Gavaskar believes the experience was valuable for assessing bench depth.

He also complimented the Yadav brothers – Mayank and Prince – for delivering disciplined spells throughout the series. Their performances, combined with Dhir’s all‑round display, illustrate the type of versatile players the side needs to stay competitive in the shortest format.