• Home
  • Who Said What
  • You Need To Think Ravi Shastri Slams Rohit Sharmas Defensive Captaincy In Pune Test

'You Need To Think...,' Ravi Shastri Slams Rohit Sharma's Defensive Captaincy In Pune Test

Rohit Sharma's captaincy has come under the scanner in Pune Test (Source:@OverMidWicket/X.com)Rohit Sharma's captaincy has come under the scanner in Pune Test (Source:@OverMidWicket/X.com)

India have been the dominant force in home Test matches and they rarely lose a Test in their won conditions. They last lost a Test series at home back in 2012, and for the first time in more than a decade, they now are in serious trouble of losing a series at home. In the Bengaluru Test, India were bowleed out for 46 in the first innings and then ended up losing the Test by eight wickets. 

Now, in the second Test, they ended up conceding a led of 103 runs after getting bowled out for just 156 in reply to New Zealand's 259. India gave away way too many easy runs in the first innings, and in the second innings too, the story continued. As the Kiwis were scoring runs, Murali Kartik and Ravi Shastri were involved in a serious discussion on India's tactics in the second Test.

Kartik-Shastri Discuss India's Tactics Against New Zealand

Kartik first mentioned that New Zealand batters have pushed Indian fielders out and there are no fielders around the bat. Shastri in reply, criticised Rohit Sharma's captaincy and called it a defensive approach by India. At that point in time, Tom Latham and Will Young were batting positively and Rohit Sharma pushed the fielders back to content run-scoring. Shastri mentioned that as India have conceded a lead of over 100, they need to bowl out New Zealand for 120 and for that they need to have attacking fielding in place and not spread the field as soon as the bowler gets hit for some runs.

Murali Kartik: "New Zealand have managed to scatter away all the men around the bat," Kartik pointed out."


Ravi Shastri:"Also tells you, tactically how you should be thinking. India should be thinking how to bowl out New Zealand for 120. For that to happen, you need to think wickets, you need people in attacking positions. Yes, if the side gets to 60 for no loss, you can start to think differently. It also makes the bowler think that he wants wickets, not with a spread out field like this."

If India lose the second Test, their chances to qualify for the third straight WTC Final would also be seriously affected. They have a tough Australian tour after the New Zealand series and a loss in the Pune Test is expected to dent their confidence big time.