Tue Dec 17 07:48:32 UTC 2024: ## India Stumbles in Brisbane, Facing Mounting Criticism

**Brisbane, Australia:** India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign is facing a significant setback after a disastrous start to the third Test match against Australia. Rain washed out the third day’s play, leaving India in a precarious position after a capitulating batting performance.

Captain Rohit Sharma’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss proved a costly mistake. Australia, fueled by centuries from Steve Smith and Travis Head, amassed a formidable 445 runs in their first innings. In stark contrast, India’s batting line-up crumbled, ending the day at a dismal 48/4.

The team’s poor performance has sparked widespread criticism, with former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali pointing to a lack of coordination between Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid as a major contributing factor. Ali, in a YouTube video, highlighted the apparent lack of synergy between the captain and the coach, suggesting this was evident in previous series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand as well. He specifically contrasted the perceived lack of harmony between Sharma and Dravid with the more collaborative approach witnessed during Dravid’s time working with Rohit Sharma’s predecessor.

Ali also questioned India’s team selection and strategy, particularly the omission of off-spinners Washington Sundar and R. Ashwin despite the presence of three left-handed batsmen in the Australian team. He criticized the inclusion of Ravindra Jadeja, who failed to contain the Australian batsmen. Further, Ali highlighted India’s over-reliance on Jasprit Bumrah and the absence of a left-arm seamer as significant weaknesses.

India’s top-order batsmen, including Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant, failed to deliver substantial scores. KL Rahul remains unbeaten on 30 at the close of play, but the task of salvaging the innings rests heavily on the shoulders of Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and Nitin Kumar Reddy. The article also noted concerns about Virat Kohli’s recent batting form, and suggestions from Gavaskar on a specific shot to avoid. The match, and the series itself, are far from over, but India faces a monumental challenge to recover.

Read More