Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin questioned stand-in skipper Rishabh Pant’s call to start Day 3 of the first Test with two left-arm spinners instead of Jasprit Bumrah. The move didn’t work, allowing South Africa to rebuild from their overnight 93-7 as Temba Bavuma led a crucial fightback.
India had dominated by the end of Day 2, reducing the Proteas to a position where they led by only 63 runs with few wickets left. But South Africa capitalised on the rolled-over pitch and the absence of Bumrah with the new day’s first spell, adding 44 valuable runs for the eighth wicket.
Corbin Bosch contributed a steady 25 off 37 balls in support of his captain. Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja bowled six overs together before the first change, during which South Africa scored 16 runs, gained momentum, and eased the pressure.
Gambhir Defends Pant’s Tactics As Ashwin Calls Leaving Out Bumrah Early A Major Error
India head coach Gautam Gambhir backed Rishabh Pant’s strategy, but Ravichandran Ashwin acknowledged that not opening the session with Bumrah was a clear mistake.
“The skipper felt having two left-arm spinners against them on this wicket could be useful. It was the right call. Most of the calls we took today, tactically, I thought were spot on,” Gambhir had said during the post-match presentation (via JioHotstar)
“The strategy at the start of Day 3 was wrong. Test match mornings should always start with your best bowlers. Bumrah and Jadeja should have started the day, then it should have been Kuldeep, and that is how the rotation should have happened. India made a massive error there, it was a tactical error, because of which the match slipped away from our hands,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Rishabh Pant took charge on the field after Shubman Gill was ruled out due to a neck injury he picked up on Day 2. The star batter felt discomfort following a sweep shot off Simon Harmer in the first innings and later walked off with the physio team.
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