Rohit Sharma's India have opted for two spinners in their playing XI for the first time in the ongoing 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Ravindra Jadeja joined Washington Sundar for the mandatory Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne.
At the start of the ongoing five-match Test series, Team India relied on a single spinner in each game, with Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja getting the chance against the Australian cricket team in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane respectively.
Rohit Sharma's tactics under fire in Boxing Day Test
However, for the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, the Indian cricket team made a tactical change which saw Shubman Gill left out of the playing XI. However, it wasn't Gill's snub that stunned many, but the way Rohit Sharma underused Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar; left many cricketing legends around the world baffled.
Team India went with three all-rounders in Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, but Rohit Sharma failed to make the most of his resources against Australia in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled just seven overs at the MCG.
On the other hand, Washington Sundar was given just 15 overs in which the all-rounder conceded 49 runs and claimed one wicket, while Ravindra Jadeja claimed three wickets in his 23 overs and bowled three maiden overs against Australia in the first innings of the first innings. fourth Test in progress.
Dodda Ganesh touts Team India's bizarre batting strategy at the MCG
Well, Rohit Sharma has made a number of tactical errors when it comes to using his bowlers, but former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh was furious at the idea of sending Akash Deep into bat after Jaiswal's wicket on number five despite having three versatile players. the alignment.
Dodda Ganesh has sparked a heated debate on social media, questioning Team India's baffling decision-making during the ongoing Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). He was stunned by Rohit Sharma's surprising move to send Akash as a nightwatchman to face the Australian duo of Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.
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Expressing his frustration with the Indian cricket team's tactics, the cricket pundit questioned the decision to send Akash Deep as the night watchman ahead of the three wicketkeepers to deal with the fiery Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland on Day 2- a and cost him another wicket. .
Cricketing makes no sense: Dodda Ganesh on sending Akash Deep as night watchman
He criticized Rohit Sharma's captaincy and the logic behind exposing the ill-equipped Akash Deep to such a daunting challenge, especially as Team India has Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar in the XI and could have facing the load much better.
Dodda Ganesh posted on his social network X after the end of Day 2: “You picked 3 cops but still send ill-equipped Akash as night watchman to deal with Starc and Boland. Serious. No sense cricketing #BGT2024”
You've picked 3 cops but still send ill-equipped Akashdeep as a night watchman to deal with Starc and Boland. Serious. There is no point in playing cricket #BGT2024
— Dodda Ganesh | Big Ganesh (@doddaganesha) December 27, 2024
India's appeal backfired as the Indian pacer was dismissed for a duck by Scott Boland after facing 13 balls on Day 2 at the MCG. The thought process behind the call may have been to save all the cops for Day 3 as India are still 111 runs away from continuing the ongoing Boxing Day Test against Australia.