“With Due Respect…”: Ex-India Star Counters Gautam Gambhir’s Asia Cup Selection Verdict

Gautam Gambhir feels Shivam Dube would’ve been a better pick for Asia Cup 2023 over Shardul Thakur as Hardik Pandya’s backup.

India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2023 has received a mixed reaction, with a section of fans and experts pointing out the apparent ‘flaws’ that exist in the team. Highlighting one of the problem areas in the team, former India star Gautam Gambhir asserted the need to have a proper backup for Hardik Pandya. Though Shardul Thakur has shown over time how productive he can be with the bat, Gambhir doesn’t think he is the ideal backup for Hardik. The former India opening batter, instead, wanted Shivam Dube to have gotten the nod.

“One name they (the select should have definitely considered is Shivam Dube because of the kind of form he is in. You need a backup for Hardik Pandya. Shardul Thakur can’t be that. Shardul Thakur cannot be Hardik’s backup,” he said in a chat on Star Sports.

Gambhir’s opinion, however, met strong resistance from former India cricketer Suni Joshi who cautioned the selectors from mixing ODIs and T20Is.

“No, I don’t think so. We have seen Shivam Dube. He would’ve been scoring in T20s but this is entirely format and a different tournament. With due respect to Gautam, this is my view. Shivam Dube has struggled with the ball and also in the field.”

Giving his opinion on India’s ODI squad for the Asia Cup, Gambhir said although it’s a decent unit, he would’ve picked one more wrist spinner, in the form of Yuzvendra Chahal or Ravi Bishnoi.