India's performance on Day 1 of the Sydney Test against Australia has sparked intense debate, with the former all-rounder Irfan Pathan weighing two key decisions: Rohit Sharma's choice to sit out and stand-in captain jasprit bumrah's call to bat first.
Rohit Sharma's bold move wins plaudits
Patan praised Rohit SharmaHis decision to sit out the crucial Test due to his poor form with the bat. Calling it a “selfless decision”, Pathan highlighted the rarity of such moves.
“It's a selfless decision, and what captain Rohit did today, you won't see many captains doing that. It can only happen when you are sure. Rohit is a very confident player,” said Pathan during a discussion on Star Sports.
Rohit's absence paved the way Shubman GillWHEREAS Prasidh Krishna replaced the injured Akash Deep.
Bumrah's decision to bat first under fire
The decision that drew the most criticism, however, was Jasprit Bumrah's choice to bat first on a green pitch in cloudy conditions. INDIAafter 1-2 in the series, they fought back Australias pacers, folding for just 185 in 72.2 overs.
Pathan expressed his reservations about the call, saying he had hoped India would miss the toss.
“I would have been happy if India had lost the batting in the Sydney Test. I knew India would strike first, considering the history of the iconic country. However, there is a lot of grass left on the field and with the bad weather, the call to play must be considered first.”
Despite the criticism, Pathan asked the batsmen to stand by the captain's decision. “Batters will have to support the decision and put runs on the board. It's a bold call, but you have to stick to it,” he added.
Beat fights exposed
India's batting unit faltered in challenging conditions. Rishabh Pants with 40 off 98 balls but the team failed to build partnerships. Pathan did not hold back in criticizing the dismissals of the batsmen.
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“Stop dismissals of Jaiswal and Jadeja (who moved off the stump line) – Others had nothing to do with the spice on the field,” he wrote in X.
India's bowlers managed to make an early breakthrough, getting bowled over Usman Khawaja in front of stumps on Day 1. Bumrah's late strike provided a morale boost for the visitors, who will now rely on their bowlers to keep them in the contest.
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