India's performance on day one of the Sydney Test against Australia sparked a heated debate, with the former all-rounder Irfan Pathan Thinking about two key decisions: selecting Rohit Sharma to sit out and stand-in captain Jasprit BumrahCall to bat first.
Rohit Sharma's bold move is commendable
Pathan praised Rohit SharmaThe decision to withdraw from the crucial test due to his poor form with the bat. Calling it a “selfless decision”, Pathan highlighted the rarity of such moves.
“It is a selfless decision, and what captain Rohit did today, you won't see many captains doing that. It can only happen when you are safe. Rohit is a very safe player,” Pathan said during a discussion on Star Sports.
Rohit's absence has made way for Shubman Gillwhile Prasidh Krishna Akash Deeb replaced the injured player.
Bumrah's decision to bat first came under fire
But the decision that drew more criticism was Jasprit Bumrah's choice to bat first on a green pitch under overcast conditions. Indiatrailing 1-2 in the series, struggled against AustraliaPacemakers, folding for just 185 in 72.2 overs.
Pathan expressed his reservations about the call, saying he was hoping India would lose the toss.
“I would be happy if India lost the toss in the Sydney Test. I knew it would be India who would bat first, given the history of this famous stadium. However, a lot of grass was left on the field and, with the weather not being good, the invitation to Consider running first.
Despite the criticism, Pathan urged the punters to stand by the skipper's decision. “The batsmen will have to back the decision and put runs on the board. It's a brave call, but you have to stick with it,” he added.
Batting struggles revealed
The Indian batting unit faltered under difficult conditions. Rishabh Pant He top-scored with 40 runs off 98 balls, but the team failed to build partnerships. Pathan did not hesitate to criticize the dismissal of the batsmen.
Read this also: Navjot Singh Sidhu criticizes Rohit Sharma's withdrawal from SCG Test: He calls it a “huge mistake”
“Except for the sending off of Jaiswal and Jadeja (who moved from the goal line) – the others had nothing to do with the spice on the pitch,” he wrote on X.
India's bowlers managed to make an early breakthrough and were dismissed Othman Al Khawaja Before stumps on the first day. Bumrah's late goal provided a morale boost for the visitors, who will now rely on their bowlers to keep them in the contest.
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