During Day 2 of the third Test at the Gabba, Australia's Travis Head and Steve Smith put on a dominant partnership, leading to Indian players' frustration and skipper Rohit Sharma's questionable decision-making. Former Australia batter Simon Katich did not hold back in his criticism, labeling the field placements and bowling tactics of Mohammed Siraj and Rohit as "dumb." This came after Rohit's decision to drop Ravindra Jadeja from the playing XI and rotate pacers throughout the match.
Ravindra Jadeja's Absence and India's Struggles in the Gabbato Test
During the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, India's decision to drop star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja from the playing XI for the third Test in Brisbane has raised eyebrows and led to criticism from former players.
Background:
Ravindra Jadeja is a key member of the Indian team, known for his left-arm spin bowling, lower-order batting skills, and exceptional fielding abilities. He played a crucial role in India's historic Test series victory in Australia in 2018-19.
Jadeja's Absence:
For the third Test at the Gabba, India opted to field four pacers and three spinners, with Jadeja being the notable absentee. Team management cited a need for more pace on the bouncy Gabba pitch as the reason for his exclusion.
Criticism:
The decision to exclude Jadeja has been widely criticized by former players and experts. Simon Katich, a former Australian batter, labeled the field placements and bowling tactics of India's bowlers as "dumb," particularly after Rohit Sharma's decision to drop Jadeja.
Katich argued that Jadeja's all-round abilities would have been valuable on the Gabba pitch, which typically offers assistance to spinners. He added that India's decision to rotate pacers throughout the match was ineffective and allowed Australia's batsmen to settle in.
India's Performance:
In the absence of Jadeja, India struggled to contain Australia's batters on Day 2 of the third Test. Travis Head and Steve Smith put on a dominant partnership, leading to frustration among the Indian players and questioning of skipper Rohit Sharma's decision-making.
Top 5 FAQs:
Who is Ravindra Jadeja? Answer: A star Indian all-rounder known for his spin bowling, batting skills, and fielding abilities.
Why was Jadeja dropped from the playing XI? Answer: Team management cited a need for more pace on the Gabba pitch as the reason for his exclusion.
What were the criticisms of India's bowling tactics? Answer: Former Australia batter Simon Katich labeled India's field placements and bowling tactics as "dumb," particularly the decision to rotate pacers frequently.
How did Australia's batters perform in the absence of Jadeja? Answer: Travis Head and Steve Smith put on a dominant partnership, leading to frustration among the Indian players.
What are the implications of India's decision to exclude Jadeja? Answer: It remains to be seen how India's performance will be affected without Jadeja in the remaining Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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