“Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir lacked common sense in first Test against New Zealand”: Ex-player slams captain and coach
Manoj Tiwary has hit out at captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir after an eight-wicket defeat in the first Test match against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. This was New Zealand’s first Test win in India since 1988.
Tiwary questioned Rohit and Gambhir about the Playing XI they picked for the opening game, in which the home team went in with two pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
“I don’t understand the logic behind the decision. Common sense was lacking. I don’t know what coach or the captain was trying to prove. Whenever there is a a new coach or new captain, they try to implement new things,” he said on Cricbuzz.
India were bowled out for 46 runs in their first innings. Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin failed to open their accounts. Rohit admitted that he failed to read the pitch.
Tiwary mentioned that India should have played three fast bowlers, and used Ravichandran Ashwin in a better way.
“Ashwin was not given enough overs despite taking more than 500 Test wickets. He should have started the bowling when India were defending 107 runs. Captains make mistakes and the role of the head coach becomes important in such situations. I don’t know why Gautam Gambhir didn’t say anything to Rohit,” he added.
Tiwary wanted Akash Deep to play the contest in Bengaluru. “Akash Deep should have retained his place in the Playing XI after his impressive performance against Bangladesh. His confidence must have been shattered after he came to know that there was no place for him in the first Test,” he concluded.
The second game between India and New Zealand will be played from October 24 to 28 at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
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