Gavaskar names Bumrah and Tilak Varma as the two players who give India an edge over England
Gavaskar, speaking to the Times of India ahead of the semi-final, was specific about why he believes these two players could tip the balance in India's favour against an England side that has looked strong throughout the tournament.
Bumrah in the powerplay
Gavaskar's first point was direct. He wants Bumrah bowling at least two overs in the powerplay against England's top order. The reasoning is straightforward. Phil Salt, Jos Buttler and Harry Brook are all aggressive starters who look to dominate the first six overs, and Gavaskar believes Bumrah is the one bowler capable of disrupting that approach early.
"Bumrah's unpredictability has made him devastating across all formats," Gavaskar said. He pointed to the way Bumrah constantly evolves his lengths and angles, making him difficult for batsmen to settle against even when they have a pre-planned approach.
Bumrah's figures in this tournament have been impressive. He returned 2/36 against West Indies in the Super 8s and has consistently delivered tight spells in high-pressure situations. His absence during the 2022 T20 World Cup, when India lost to England in the semi-final, is something the Indian camp will be acutely aware of.
Tilak Varma's role against spin
The second player Gavaskar highlighted was Tilak Varma, and his reasoning centred on match-ups. England's primary spin option is Will Jacks, whose off-spin has earned him four Player of the Match awards this tournament. Jacks has been particularly effective against right-handed batsmen, which is where Gavaskar sees Varma's value as a left-hander.
Left-handed batsmen naturally play off-spin differently. The ball turns away from them rather than into them, changing the angles Jacks can use. If India position Varma to face Jacks during the middle overs, it could neutralise one of England's most effective weapons in the tournament.
Gavaskar's broader view
It is worth noting that Gavaskar did not originally pick India as his pre-tournament favourites. Before the World Cup began, he named South Africa and England as the two teams most likely to win the trophy, citing their balanced rosters and depth in both batting and bowling.
That makes his specific praise for Bumrah and Varma more considered than a routine patriotic prediction. He sees genuine tactical advantages India hold in these two players, while acknowledging that England's overall squad depth makes them a formidable opponent.
The semi-final takes place on Thursday, 5 March at 7:00 PM IST at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
