Stuart Binny deserves place in World Cup starting line-up: Sunil Gavaskar

Stuart Binny has done enough to seal a spot in the starting XI, says Sunil Gavaskar

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has said that Stuart Binny has put in sufficient performances to earn a spot in the starting XI for the upcoming Cricket World Cup. The 30-year-old was India’s highest wicket-taker in the Carlton Mid tri-series, having taken 4 wickets in 3 completed matches, including a spell of 3 for 33 in 8 overs against England at Perth yesterday. However, he added that Binny needs to work hard on his batting and should show a bit more application at the crease.

"He (Binny) has done enough to earn his place in the team. Only thing is that while batting, he can perhaps apply his mind a bit. If you go for the lofted hits in these big Australian grounds, you will have an odd connection for a six but 9 out of 10 times, you will be caught in the deep. In Australia, you need to play the cut and pull, the horizontal bat shots," Gavaskar told NDTV after India’s loss to England on Friday.

Dhoni seemed to be at a loss for ideas: Gavaskar

When enquired as to why he thought MS Dhoni didn't bowl out Binny on Friday, Gavaskar said that the answer to that can be given only by the skipper and added that the 33-year-old seemed to be at a loss for ideas during the game.

"You have to ask Dhoni that. It did look as if there was shortage of ideas but I wouldn't like to be too critical about India's performance. I would take these matches (tri-series) as practice games,” he said.

Despite India not progressing to the final, the 65-year-old sounded optimistic about India’s chances at the marquee event starting next month.

"I am an optimist. Yes I am disappointed with the performance but not dejected," he said.

Kohli should be the pivot in the batting line-up: Gavaskar

Gavaskar also came out in support of the team management’s decision to tinker with Virat Kohli’s position in the batting order, saying that the 26-year-old right-hander is the pivot around which the other batsmen should revolve and he shouldn’t be sent into bat at the fall of an early wicket.

"Look it is a tactical decision. When the team gets off to a flying start, Kohli will come in at No 3 but when India lose an early wicket and the ball is doing a bit, you need to protect him as he is cog around which the team will revolve," he said.