Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma is facing intense criticism over his bewildering strategy and team selection for the must-win Boxing Day Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne.
While Rohit Sharma’s decisions continue to raise eyebrows so far in the intense Test series, the most talked-about move was the inclusion of Washington Sundar in the playing XI for the ongoing fourth Test, especially when Ravindra Jadeja was already there.
Rohit Sharma faces heat for controversial strategy in Boxing Day Test
To accommodate the spin all-rounder Washington Sundar, the Indian cricket team dropped Shubman Gill for the ongoing Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This move sparked intense debate, with many questioning why such a bold decision was made at the expense of talented Gill.
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Rohit Sharma’s captaincy is also under fire for his handling of India’s bowling attack during the first two days of the ongoing Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne.
Despite having a strong bowling attack, Rohit’s decision-making regarding matchups and bowler rotations failed to get the best out of the team, and the hosts piled up 474 runs on the board in their first innings.
Why did you take 2 spinners if you had to bowl them after 40 overs?: Ravi Shastri slams Rohit Sharma’s captaincy
Indian captain’s tactical errors have drawn criticism from cricketing legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri, and they have openly questioned Rohit’s judgment. The former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri expressed his confusion over the decision to include two spinners in the XI and then limit their bowling opportunities at the MCG.
While commentating on Day 2, the former Indian captain and all-rounder has also pointed out that spinners in Melbourne should have bowled in quick bursts, but Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar were brought into the attack only after 40 overs, which he felt was a wasted opportunity.
Ravi Shastri said on-air: “Why did you take 2 spinners if you had to bowl them after 40 overs? In Melbourne, spinners should always bowl in 1 or 1 and a half overs. I didn’t understand why Jadeja and Sundar bowled after 40 overs.”
Ravi Shastri slams India’s bowling changes and defensive field placements
Ravi Shastri also criticized the timing of India’s bowling changes, saying Jasprit Bumrah should have opened the attack on Day 2, instead of Mohammad Siraj, and this blunder hurt the team’s chances early on in the ongoing Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne.
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The former Indian head coach further noted, “India should’ve started with Bumrah but Siraj bowled the first over. With Siraj’s confidence being low, it’s important to handle him well.”
Furthermore, the commentator questioned Rohit Sharma’s field placements, especially when Mitchell Starc came to bat, suggesting India should have positioned at least one fielder in the inner circle, instead of relying on long-on and long-off, which was an unnecessary defensive move.
Shastri signed off by saying, “You see, Mitchell Starc has come and you have long on and long off fielders. At least put one of them up.” Notably, India still needs 111 runs to avoid the follow-on after ending Day 2 at 165/5 in the ongoing Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG.
