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India’s performance on Day 1 of the Sydney Test against Australia has sparked intense debate, with former all-rounder Irfan Pathan weighing in on two key decisions: Rohit Sharma’s decision to sit out and stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah’s decision to bat first.
Rohit Sharma’s bold move draws praise
Pathan praised Rohit Sharma’s decision to opt out of the crucial Test due to his poor form with the bat. Pathan called it a “selfless decision” and highlighted the rarity of such measures.
“It’s a selfless decision, and what Captain Rohit did today, you won’t see many captains doing that. It can only happen when you are sure. Rohit is a very confident player,” Pathan shared during a discussion on Star Sports.
Rohit’s absence made way for Shubman Gill, while Prasidh Krishna replaced the injured Akash Deep.
Bumrah’s decision to bat first under fire
However, the decision that drew the most criticism was Jasprit Bumrah’s choice to bat first on a green grass pitch in overcast conditions. India, trailing 1-2 in the series, struggled against Australia’s pacers, folding for just 185 in 72.2 overs.
Pathan expressed reservations about the decision and stated that he expected India to lose the toss.
“I would be happy if India had lost the toss in the Sydney Test. I knew India would bat first, considering the history of the iconic venue. However, there is a lot of grass left on the pitch and as the weather is not good, bowling first should have been considered.”
Despite the criticism, Pathan urged the batsmen to respect the captain’s decision. “The batsmen will have to back the decision and put runs on the board. “It is a brave decision, but you have to stick to it,” he added.
Exposed batting fights
India’s batting unit faltered in difficult conditions. Rishabh Pant top-scored with 40 runs off 98 balls but the team failed to establish partnerships. Pathan did not hesitate to criticize the dismissals of the batsmen.
Also read this: Navjot Singh Sidhu slams Rohit Sharma’s voluntary exclusion from SCG Test: Calls it a ‘blunder’
“Barring the dismissals of Jaiswal and Jadeja (who moved from the stump line), the others had nothing to do with the flavor of the field,” he wrote in X.
India’s bowlers made an early breakthrough, dismissing Usman Khawaja before stumps on Day 1. Bumrah’s late knock provided a morale boost for the visitors, who will now depend on their bowlers to keep them in the game. contest.
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