Former India coach Ravi Shastri did not hold back in his criticism of captain Rohit Sharma's tactics during the second day of the ongoing second Test against New Zealand. Despite a stellar effort from New Zealand's Mitchell Santner, who took career-best figures of 7/53, Shastri felt that Rohit's conservative field placements were not aggressive enough to dismiss the Kiwis quickly. As a result, New Zealand consolidated their lead in the second innings, with Tom Latham and Will Young taking charge and putting India in a challenging position.
Rohit Sharma's Tactics Under Fire from Former India Coach Ravi Shastri
During the second day of the ongoing second Test against New Zealand, former India coach Ravi Shastri expressed his dissatisfaction with captain Rohit Sharma's tactical decisions. Shastri, known for his outspoken nature, criticized Sharma's conservative field placements, which he believed lacked the aggression needed to dismiss the Kiwis quickly.
Despite a stellar performance from New Zealand's Mitchell Santner, who claimed career-best figures of 7/53, Sharma's cautious approach allowed the visitors to consolidate their lead in the second innings. Tom Latham and Will Young put India under pressure, leaving them in a challenging position.
Background
Rohit Sharma has been captain of the Indian Test team since February 2022, succeeding Virat Kohli. Under his leadership, India has won three out of their five Test matches, including a historic series win in England. However, the team's recent struggles in New Zealand have raised questions about Sharma's tactics and decision-making.
Top 5 FAQs
1. What were Shastri's specific criticisms of Sharma's tactics? Shastri believed that Sharma's field placements were too defensive, allowing New Zealand's batsmen to play comfortably and accumulate runs. He also criticized Sharma's decision not to bring in the spinners earlier in the innings.
2. How did India's performance reflect Sharma's tactics? New Zealand's lead extended to 127 runs in the second innings, highlighting the ineffectiveness of Sharma's cautious approach. India's bowlers struggled to create consistent pressure, and the batsmen were unable to chase down the target set by the Kiwis.
3. What is Sharma's track record as captain of the Test team? Sharma has a winning percentage of 60% as captain of the Indian Test team, having won three out of five matches. However, his tactical decisions have come under scrutiny in recent matches.
4. How did Sharma respond to Shastri's criticism? Sharma has not publicly commented on Shastri's criticism. However, he has previously defended his tactics, stating that he makes decisions based on the conditions and the strengths of the opposition.
5. What is the outlook for India in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand? India needs to win the third Test to level the series. However, the team's recent struggles and Shastri's criticism of Sharma's tactics have raised doubts about their chances of victory.
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