Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar was not at all pleased with Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s tactics on Day 2 of the 3rd Test vs Australia. Notably, Australia has tightened its grip by the end of Day 2 as the visitors had bundled India for 163 in the 2nd innings. With three days left in the 3rd Test match, Australia just needs 75 runs to win the game.
While speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar expressed his displeasure with the Indian skipper and said that Rohit's tactics to not bowl R Ashwin for almost the entire first hour of Day 2 were baffling. Notably, Ashwin was introduced into the attack only a few minutes before the drinks break. By that time, Peter Handcomb and Cameron Green had batted well to stretch Australia’s first-innings lead over 75.
“I don’t understand this too much focus on the match-up thing. Because there were two right-handers in the crease, Ashwin was not brought on till the last over before the drinks break. Because of those matchups , the two left arms bowled, then what happened? Who gets the breakthrough? R Ashwin. He gets the wicket of Handscomb. He is a top player, he is going to get wickets, does not matter if it's right-hander or a left-hander. He is a great bowler. Ashwin has 450 plus wickets, and he should have been given the ball a lot earlier,” Gavaskar said.
“You don’t send a No. 7 ahead of No. 3 just because he may be not good against spin or good against pace. You send the No. 3 because he is good, he is a top batter. So, what is this thing about bowlers? And why does this happen regularly to Ashwin? That extra 20 runs could have been saved,” Gavaskar added.
Ashwin immediately got the results for India in his second over of the day by getting the wicket of Handscomb and breaking the partnership. The veteran off-spinner also hunted down Alex Carey and Nathan Lyon as India got six wickets for just 11 runs and bowled the visitors for 197.