Gavaskar sends a strong message: 'India can win without Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli too'

Despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, India managed to claim the title at the Champions Trophy. Many were worried when the star pacer was ruled out, fearing their chances would be significantly reduced. However, the team showed incredible composure and made smart decisions by including Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy in their squads. These bold choices paid off as both players made significant contributions to India's victory.

Gavaskar is particularly impressed with how India turned things around after the Australia tour debacle. To move past the hurtful 1-3 defeat Down Under and quickly regroup to win the Champions Trophy is a testament to how good this Indian team – Bumrah or no Bumrah – reckons the Little Master.

"India's win in the Champions Trophy was one sweet win, especially after the disappointing Test series loss to Australia a month or so earlier. For a team that had won the first Test of the series in such style to cave in and lose three out of the next four Test matches was not really a proper indication of the strength of the team," he wrote in his column for The Mid-day.

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"Very seldom has a team depended on one individual like the Indians depended on Jasprit Bumrah in Australia and his absence from the bowling attack to defend the small target set by India tilted the scales Australia’s way and they won the final Test and with it the series."

India did not waste any time after returning from Australia. They knew they had little time to prepare for the Champions Trophy – just three ODIs against England – hence, captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir got down to business. A comprehensive 3-0 beating of England at home gave the Men in Blue the confidence to head into the Champions Trophy full of confidence.

'India's win withoutb Bumrah emphasises that nobody is indispensable'

In the big one, India played like Champions, smashing through any team that came in their way. Rana picked 3/31 against Bangladesh and 1/30 against Pakistan before Chakaravarthy replaced him. And what a move it turned out to be. The spinner's 5/52 against New Zealand in the league game made him an automatic pick for the knockouts, and the rest… as they say… is history. Gavaskar can't be more pleased with all that he's seen of this team.

"For the Indian team to bounce back the way they did with comprehensive wins in the ODI and T20 series against England that were played on the team’s return to India tells volumes of the talent that Indian cricket has. Those wins, as also the triumph in the Champions Trophy and that too without Bumrah, also emphasises that nobody is indispensable in this game," added Gavaskar.

"In the past too, India has won without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, but there’s not the slightest doubt that their presence in the team gives the team an even more invincible look. It is good to see so many overseas cricketers now coming up and saying India would have won anyway wherever they played and not only because they were stationed in Dubai."

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