• Source:JND
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IND vs OMA, Asia Cup 2025: Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has thrown his weight behind skipper Suryakumar Yadav's unorthodox decision to promote teammates ahead of himself in the batting order during India's dead rubber group match against Oman.

Having already secured a spot in the Super Fours with wins over UAE and Pakistan, India captain took a call to reshuffle the batting order in their last group stage clash.

In a bid to give the lower-order more playing time ahead of the crucial Pakistan clash, Suryakumar pushed himself down to No. 11 in the batting lineup.

India posted a competitive total of 188 for eight and went on to register a 12-run victory over Oman.

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"If he had batted for even one over, he could have hit a few fours and sixes and that would have been good for him. But the way he batted against Pakistan, may be does not need batting practice," Gavaskar said in a conversation with former India pacer Irfan Pathan on Sony Sports.

"He may have thought that Kuldeep Yadav's batting could come in handy if India lose quick wickets in one of the matches. Perhaps that's why he may have sent Kuldeep in to bat," he added.

Gavaskar applauded Suryakumar for his unconventional thinking in the match against Oman.

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"He is a very unorthodox thinker. We saw in Sri Lanka that he himself bowled and also gave Rinku Singh the ball. He turned the game, which seemed to have slipped away, on its head and won India the match," the India legend said.

"He is an innovative thinker. Maybe that's why he did not bat and sent in Kuldeep and Arshdeep Singh," the 76-year-old added.