New Delhi, Jan 26 (NationPress) Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar lauded Team India for their meticulous preparations ahead of the T20 World Cup title defense, emphasizing that the Men in Blue are not underestimating the World Cup and are not taking anything for granted.

His remarks followed India's success in clinching the five-match T20I series against New Zealand with two games remaining, as they triumphed in the third match decisively by eight wickets on Sunday.

In pursuit of 154 runs, India overcame an early challenge to achieve victory in just 10 overs, propelled by Abhishek Sharma’s outstanding 68 not out off 28 balls and Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 57 off 26.

Abhishek achieved a 14-ball fifty, the second-fastest by an Indian, as India raced to 94/2 during the powerplay. However, prior to the batting onslaught, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi excelled with the ball, limiting New Zealand to 153/9 despite solid contributions from Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, and captain Mitchell Santner.

Commenting on India's preparation for the forthcoming World Cup, Gavaskar characterized the New Zealand series as merely the starting point of a much broader journey.

“This series serves as an appetiser; the main course kicks off from February 7. Having secured the series, the emphasis now shifts to defending the World Cup title. The players are engaging in thorough preparation. Some haven’t even had the opportunity to bat, so they are focusing on range-hitting, timing, rhythm, bat flow, and pick-up. This reflects the commitment of this team; they are not underestimating the World Cup,” he stated on JioStar.

Abhishek's explosive performance ensured India achieved a commanding eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in Guwahati, establishing a decisive 3–0 lead in the series.

Gavaskar also drew parallels between Abhishek and his mentor Yuvraj Singh while discussing the young opener’s rapid ascent and potential to break records.

“Records like that are incredibly challenging to surpass. Achieving a fifty in just two overs is exceedingly tough. However, what Abhishek Sharma has demonstrated in recent matches shows he has the ability to do it. He has scored a fifty in 14 deliveries in this match and in 16 deliveries previously, so he is consistently getting closer.

“Yuvraj Singh will undoubtedly be the happiest about this. Understandably, when your record is broken by someone you mentor, it’s a unique feeling. You prefer to see another Indian take it. When my century record was surpassed by Sachin Tendulkar, there was a tinge of emotion, but who achieved it? Another Indian,” he added.

Addressing Suryakumar Yadav’s form as the World Cup approaches, Gavaskar asserted that the Indian skipper is never lacking in confidence or timing—only runs.

“The innings he played in Raipur provided him with the confidence he needed. He has not been out of form; he has simply been short on runs. He has been performing well in the nets, making clean contact with the ball all around the ground. It just hasn’t translated into matches.

“Sometimes, it only requires a bit of luck to get going. This time, he didn’t even need luck. That innings was precisely what he needed to boost his confidence, and the shots he played were extraordinary,” the former India opener stated.

The 76-year-old concluded by highlighting India’s increasing confidence and remarkable depth, particularly in the lower middle order.

“India possesses complete confidence. With players like Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya batting lower down the order—and they haven’t even had to bat in two matches while India continues to win comfortably—this speaks volumes about the caliber of this team.

“In a 20-over match, if a batter believes they have five or seven overs, they can aim to score off almost every ball. It doesn’t always have to be a boundary or six; it could also be a couple of runs, but the key is to make every ball count.

“That belief is unmistakable. Even if there’s a minor setback, this team is aware that they can recover, regroup, and keep advancing toward victory,” he emphasized.