“The amount of cricket we play it is always important to rotate players and keep them fresh.” -Photo by Reuters

ADELAIDE: Indian opener Gautam Gambhir says India's memorable four-wicket win over Australia in their one-day international had vindicated the team's controversial rotation policy.

India's decision to rotate openers through the series saw champion batsman Sachin Tendulkar miss the Adelaide match on Sunday, denying him another chance to score his 100th international century.

The decision to rotate players has angered the likes of Indian great Sunil Gavaskar, who believes the best team should always take the field.

However, Tendulkar's absence enabled Gambhir to return to the side to partner Virender Sehwag at the top of the order and he produced a man-of-the-match performance with 92 from 111 balls.

Gambhir said a busy playing schedule meant rotating players was a legitimate part of international cricket, adding that the Indians were blessed with the playing depth to benefit from the tactic.

“The amount of cricket we play it is always important to rotate players and keep them fresh,” he said on Sunday.

“Australia rested Mike Hussey as well because they wanted to keep him fresh.

“Now that we have started rotating our players it is a good sign because we know that we've got a lot of playing strength and someone like Rohit (Sharma) or (Suresh) Raina, it gives them an extra opportunity.

“It is important to rotate everyone, there is a long way to go in the series, there are five games left.

“It is a team game and I totally back that rotation policy.”

Gambhir praised the emergence of young paceman Umesh Yadav, who picked up two important wickets on Sunday to continue the impressive form he showed during the one-sided Test series.

“Umesh for me is the find of the tour, someone who can clock 150 consistently,” he said.

“We can start giving back to the opposition what we have been receiving for years and years.

“Someone who can hit the deck hard, and hit 150-plus consistently, can rattle any batsman in the world.

“He is someone who should play for India for a long time and develop as a world-class bowler.”