Sunil Gavaskar praises Iyer’s explosive innings and defends Sanju Samson’s role

In Lucknow on October 7, Indian captain Shreyas Iyer delivered a powerful 102‑run knock against the West Indies, marking his first T20 hundred and achieving it in just 42 balls.

Gavaskar lauded the innings as “unstoppable”, noting that Iyer answered every delivery, from early line and length to the decisive upper‑cut off Romario Shepherd. The veteran highlighted that Iyer’s recent batting form had been under scrutiny, but the century has put those concerns to rest.

Turning to the team’s wicket‑keeper‑batsman, Gavaskar defended Sanju Samson, stating that recent low scores do not outweigh his earlier achievements, including twin half‑centuries versus Afghanistan. He argued that Samson’s experience and skill make him the right choice to open the batting against the West Indies, rather than making hasty replacements.

Gavaskar warned against constant reshuffling of the batting order, insisting that stability nurtures confidence in the dressing room. He concluded that both Iyer’s return to peak form and Samson’s proven record should be the pillars of India’s upcoming matches.