Since Gautam Gambhir became India’s coach, he emphasized selecting players based on conditions. However, this strategy was not executed in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, (BGT) contributing to India‘s defeat.
Australia clinched the series with a 6-wicket win in Sydney, ending India’s World Test Championship final hopes. Batting struggles and Bumrah’s lack of support were key, but poor player selection also contributed to the loss.
For example, in the first Test, Washington Sundar, who performed well against New Zealand, was chosen over veterans R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Ashwin, with 40 wickets in 11 previous matches in Australia, could have taken on the same role as Sundar.
After initially backing Washington Sundar in the first game, India dropped him for Ashwin in the next match, but the veteran struggled, taking just 1 wicket and scoring 29 runs across both innings. In the third match, India chose Ravindra Jadeja to strengthen the batting, leaving both Ashwin and Sundar out.
India’s bowling decisions raised concerns, particularly with pacers. Harshit Rana impressed initially but struggled in Adelaide, where Akash Deep could have been a better fit. In the last two matches, India chose two spinners, while Australia stuck to four pacers, with Marsh and Webster excelling.
Sundar and Jadeja were not utilized as attacking options, and India’s reluctance to use Nitish Kumar Reddy, similar to how Australia used Webster and Marsh, left many surprised.
The batting carousel
The most baffling aspect for Indian fans was the inconsistent batting performance. India scored over 200 runs only three times, largely due to constant lineup changes. Rohit Sharma’s return after the Perth Test sparked confusion in selection, as he chose to bat at No. 6, a position he last played six years ago, to allow KL Rahul to continue his form.
Rohit struggled in Adelaide and Brisbane, while Rahul performed well, particularly at the Gabba. Eventually, India moved Rohit back to the top to accommodate him. This led to Shubman Gill being dropped after establishing himself at No. 3 post-Pujara’s exit, creating more instability.
Rohit Sharma struggled, finishing the series with just 31 runs from 5 innings at an average of 6.2, and dropped himself for the final match. Rahul’s form also declined, and returning to the opening spot didn’t help.
Ultimately, India was outplayed in batting, and with time until the England tour, the challenge remains to find the right combination. Meanwhile, teams like England and Australia have confidently announced their lineups, while India continues to search for theirs, leaving them behind in preparation.
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