Pune: New Zealand took full advantage by opting to bat first and making a good start in the sunny conditions at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium. Visiting skipper Tom Latham had no hesitation in choosing to bat and putting runs on the board on a dry track, which is likely to crumble as the match progresses, making India’s task doubly difficult as they have to bat last in the innings.
In dry and hot conditions, Indian pacers bowled only six overs with the new ball before skipper Rohit Sharma decided to bring Ravichandran Ashwin into the attack. The off-spinner delivered immediately removing Latham in his first over.
It was a good start for India who inflicted an early blow inside the first 10 overs. However, some questionable captaincy from Rohit allowed Devon Conway and Will Young to build a 44-run stand to steady the ship for India. Rohit allowed the pair to settle and form a partnership by spreading the field and giving them easy singles. As soon as Latham was dismissed, Rohit should have put pressure on the new batter by attacking field placements.
Sunil Gavaskar tears into Rohit Sharma for defensive captaincy
Rohit’s captaincy was slammed on the air by former India opener Sunil Gavaskar, who called Rohit a ‘negative’ and ‘defensive’ captain.
“He is a defensive captain, he is a negative captain”
Sunil gavaskar not holding back in exposing Rohit’s captaincy 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/Ch9WYN6g5V
— M. (@IconicKohIi) October 24, 2024
India got lucky as Young was caught down the leg side in the 24th over off the bowling of Ashwin. But Rohit didn’t learn from his mistake and allowed the new batter – Rachin Ravindra – to settle by not putting pressure on him.
Conway (76) and Ravindra milked the Indian bowlers and built a 62-run partnership by taking advantage of the defensive field setting.
Conway was eventually dismissed for 76 post Lunch.
Gavaskar had also questioned India’s team selection and said that the hosts may have panicked by including Washington Sundar in the playing XI ahead of Kuldeep Yadav.
India, trailing 0-1 in the three-match series, made three changes to their team, replacing Mohammed Siraj and KL Rahul with Akash Deep and Shubhman Gill respectively while chinaman Kuldeep made way for Washington.
