Rohit Sharma missed the first test match due to personal reasons where India against all odds beat the hosts Australia under the captaincy of Jasprit Bumrah. Later in the second test, Australia drew the series by defeating India. The series hung in the balance as both teams looked sharp after the first two test matches.
But on Sunday, Day 2 of the current 3rd Test match against Australia in Brisbane, India captain Rohit Sharma came under fire for his leadership. Early in the morning session, India got off to a strong start thanks to Jasprit Bumrah and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who dropped Australia to 3/75. However, Australia ended the day with a dominant 405/7 thanks to centuries from Steve Smith (101) and Travis Head (152).
During the 241-run stand with Smith, Head was Australia’s main destroyer, scoring at nearly run-a-ball. Travis Head has been troubling India for a number of years now and India does not seem to have a plan against the swashbuckling left-hander. His pacy innings takes away the game from India every time he comes out to bat.
Ravi Shastri Reacts On Rohit Sharma’s Captaincy
However, former India head coach Ravi Shastri lashed out at Rohit Sharma for his defensive field placements and for allowing Head and Smith to dictate proceedings.
“Worst set ups,” Shastri was heard as saying on-air, while sharing his views on Rohit Sharma’s field placements.
David Warner, a former opener for Australia, also criticized Rohit’s strategy, stating that India ought to have used short balls to target Head and Smith. India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, acknowledged after the game that the bowlers did not carry out their plans against Smith and Head.
“First of all, we can say he’s (Head) in pretty good form. But I think for us with the ball, if you look at it from overs 50 to 80, even in the last game, is where we fall short, leaking (runs) a little bit. So, that’s one area I think we need to get better at,” Morkel said in the post-day press conference.
After picking up three wickets in the morning session, Morkel claimed the Indian bowlers were unable to maintain the tempo.
“First up with the ball this morning, we were pretty good, at 3 for 70, but took nothing away from two world-class players, Smith we know, he’s a guy who also can bat long and score runs. They (Smith and Head) put a partnership there and put us under pressure with a softer ball.
“It’s definitely an area that we need to focus on, maybe deeper in the innings. Yes, we’ve got the game plans, but are we executing those game plans with a softer ball from both ends? That’s something we need to get better at,” getting added.
Its high time for the Indian bowling unit and Rohit Sharma to find the correct strategy bowling to Head and Smith or else they will fail to get them out in the remaining test matches of the remainder of the series.