Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has raised concerns about the coordination between India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma amid the ongoing third Test against Australia. Basit suggested that both are not on the same page, highlighting that their differences have become evident over recent series, including the one-day tournament in Sri Lanka and the Bangladesh series, which he considered weak.
The criticism intensified following India’s poor performance in the Adelaide pink-ball Test and the lacklustre showing in Brisbane, with Basit emphasizing the disconnect between Rohit and Gambhir’s strategies.
Issues with Team Selection and Ravindra Jadeja’s Role
Basit also questioned the logic behind Ravindra Jadeja’s inclusion in the playing XI for the ongoing Test. He pointed out that India had rotated spinners throughout the series, with a different one playing in each Test match. Noting the Australian team’s three left-handers, he suggested that bowlers like Washington Sundar or Ravichandran Ashwin would have been more suitable choices. He remarked that any cricket enthusiast would notice the inconsistency in India’s bowling selections and approach.
India’s Struggles Against Australia: Over-Reliance on Bumrah
Basit highlighted India’s over-reliance on pacer Jasprit Bumrah and the absence of left-arm pace bowlers as contributing factors to India’s difficulties against Travis Head’s dominant performances. He expressed doubts about the decision to bowl first in the Brisbane Test and criticized the Indian bowling attack for failing to support Bumrah.
He pointed out that India lacks a left-arm fast bowler, which weakens their ability to counteract Australia’s top order, particularly Head, who has been in excellent form. Basit compared the current situation to past encounters where bowlers like Shaheen Shah Afridi had success against Head due to their different angles.
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