Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, has been under fire for his perplexing tactics and selection decisions during the Melbourne Test. Ever since he announced that Washington Sundar would be returning to India’s playing XI for the Boxing Day Test, at the expense of Shubman Gill, Rohit’s decision-making has been repeatedly questioned. For the first two days, Rohit found it difficult to get the most out of India’s bowling attack, whether it was through the use of his bowlers or matchups against various Australian hitters. Some of his decisions received public criticism from legends like Suni Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri.
Shastri questioned Rohit and head coach Gambhir about the choice to include two spinners in the playing XI during his commentary duties on Day 2 of the Melbourne Test because they failed to demonstrate the necessary faith in them.
“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,” Shastri wondered.
The squad should have began Day 2 with Bumrah, according to the former India head coach, but he entered to bowl the third over. “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,” he asserted.
Shastri questioned Rohit’s field placements in addition to his bowling adjustments. He said: “You see, Mitchell Starc has come and you have long on and long off fielders. At least put one of them up.”
India’s middle bowling performance infuriated Sunil Gavaskar as well. No Indian pacer, with the exception of Jasprit Bumrah, was able to step up. India’s pacers ‘wasted’ the new ball, according to Gavaskar. “Pretty ordinary blowing. If you have to bowl a bouncer, you get it around the helmet’s badge and not around the waist. I’m very disappointed, I’m sorry. This new ball has been wasted. Aakash Deep has been all over the place. He has wasted the new ball by bowling way outside off stump. The Indians have also been sloppy in the field,” the original Little Master said on commentary.
Later on, Rohit also made the decision to bat first for India, moving KL Rahul, who was playing well, lower in the order. However, the captain left after just scoring three runs.