NEW DELHI: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has recognized poor shot choice across the center session on the ultimate day because the key reason for India’s loss in the Boxing Day Testwhich additionally weakened their maintain on the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
While avoiding particular names, Shastri identified that the dismissals of “two senior players and a youngster” could be topic to detailed evaluation.
In his column for The Daily Telegraph, Shastri wrote: “It was amazing to see the Indian crowds having traveled from all parts of the globe to come and experience Test cricket at its best at the ‘G.”
He continued: “Unfortunately for them, some poor shot selection on either side of the middle session on the final day cost India the game. And probably has ensured that India may have lost their grip on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with one test to go.”
The performances of captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant in the fourth Test have drawn criticism, as Australia secured a 184-run victory to steer 2-1 in the collection.
To retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Team India wants a victory in the Sydney Testwhereas Australia can reclaim the trophy for the primary time since 2014–15 with both a draw or win.
The technical and psychological difficulties confronted by Rohit and Kohli, coupled with Pant’s poorly executed pull shot to lengthy-on, led to a major collapse in the second innings.
“There will be a few other second-innings dismissals that will be scrutinized in India as well, involving two senior players and a youngster. Three very loose shots,” Shastri noticed.
The contrasting captaincy performances had been notable, with Pat Cummins, who earned the participant of the match award, displaying excellence whereas Rohit struggled significantly.
“It would not assist when one among it entails the captain who’s struggling. Also would not assist when Cummins raises his recreation to a scale of 8 or 9 when up in opposition to his counterpart, who’s on the reverse finish of the size, Shastri concluded.