I felt Kohli should have put his hand up: Karsan Ghavri

Onecricket

Former Indian seamer Karsan Ghavri has opined that former skipper Virat Kohli should have stepped up to take over the team's leadership duties for the Edgbaston Test in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma.

Sharma was ruled out of the 5th and final Test of the Pataudi Trophy due to Covid-19, and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was appointed India's 36th Test skipper.

Bumrah, who had no prior experience of leading a cricket team at any level, did not have a great game as skipper as his field placements and tactics were all over the place when England batters turned the tables on the visitor's bowling attack from the afternoon session of Day 4.

Speaking to Mid-Day, Ghavri, who claimed 452 wickets in 159 First-Class matches, said that Bumrah, given his lack of experience as a captain, shouldn't have led India in such a crucial Test match and instead, Kohli should have risen to the occasion and tell the management that he will lead the team.

"When Rohit Sharma was not available for this Test [having tested positive for COVID-19], Kohli should have stepped up and said that I will take up the responsibility to lead this team. Winning and losing is a part of the game, but in such a difficult situation, I felt Kohli should have put his hand up," said Ghavri.

"Bumrah has never captained any team. Forget about a Ranji Trophy team, he has not even led a club side. Look, a captain's mind is totally different. He needs to keep thinking about making field placements and effecting bowling changes, and strategizing throughout. In the dressing room, I'm sure [head coach] Rahul Dravid and the other coaches made a lot of plans, but when the 11 players go onto the field, the captain must execute them. Bumrah couldn't do that," he added.

Ultimately, the lack of venom in their bowling and shambolic batting display in the 3rd innings came back to bite the visitors as they squandered a golden opportunity to win a Test series in England after a gap of 15 years, with a rampaging duo of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow leading their side to a historic series-levelling win on the 5th morning.


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