Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has made a big statement regarding the Indian captaincy and head coach, which has created a stir in Indian cricket.
He said that the lack of understanding between India captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir is affecting the team’s performance.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 has been a big blow for the Indian cricket team. The third Test between India and Australia match will be played at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bowl first. Australia had scored 445 runs in the first innings. Jasprit Bumrah’s six-wicket haul provided some respite but Travis Head and Steve Smith tormented the Indian bowlers with a 241-run partnership.
The Indian team’s difficulties increased further when the fast bowlers limited the team’s score to 48/4 in the first innings.
Basit Ali’s statement on his YouTube channel
“I can very easily explain that Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir are not on the same page. Be it a weak tournament in Sri Lanka or Bangladesh, or the New Zealand series – the lack of coordination between them is evident everywhere.”
“In the second and third Test, they (Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir) are not thinking exactly the same, like it was between Rahul Dravid and Rohit. Dravid and Rohit were on the same page but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.”
Basit Ali also questioned the selection of the team, to which he said,
“Different spinners were played in all three Test matches. In the two Tests, he won the toss and batted, but here (at the Gabba) he chose to bowl. There are three left-handers in the Australian batting. So why not Washington Sundar and why not Ravichandran Ashwin?”
“Anyone who understands cricket will definitely question these things. There is no left-arm fast bowler in the Indian team. This is a weak link. We have seen Mir Hamza or Shaheen Shah Afridi play at the head position in Pakistan because it gives a different angle.”
Apart from this, Basit Ali also questioned the strategy of the Indian team at the Gabba,
“History shows that batting first at the Gabba is always a big help. But here he chose to bowl. If you notice, Bumrah bowls round the wicket to Head. “
The difference between Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir is now visible. In the last few months, there has been a lot of difference in communication and strategy between them.
