Highlight
Sunil Gavaskar was critical of the batting order modifications.
Ranjith Gavaskar said it was a mistake to demote Rohit Sharma.
The game began with Ishan Kishan at the crease, and Rohit Sharma batted at third.
To be fair, Sunil Gavaskar was critical of the changes made to the batting order after India’s loss to New Zealand. Kishan opened instead of Sharma.
India lost by an innings and eight wickets to New Zealand in the T20 World Cup quarterfinals on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium. With no top-order batsmen scoring more than 20 runs, Virat Kohli’s team once again suffered a major batting collapse. KL Rahul, the team’s star opener, could muster only 18 runs off 16 balls, while Ishan Kishan could muster only four more. The no. 3 batsman, Rohit Sharma (14 off 14 balls), managed a respectable score of 14 while Kohli (nine off 17 balls) struggled mightily. Rohit should never have been demoted from his opening position, according to Sunil Gavaskar after the game. According to the cricket legend, Kishan should never have opened for India because he was a “hit-or-miss player.”
Gavaskar stated the following on Sports Tak: “If there is anything holding me back, it’s failure fear. However, the team suffered as a result of the alterations to the batting order. The No. 3 spot goes to a star like Rohit Sharma. At No. 4, someone like Virat Kohli enters the fray, who’s amassed an incredible amount of runs while batting at No. 3. There is also a young player, like Ishan Kishan, assigned to open the batting for India.”
He went on to say that since Rohit has been India’s opener for the past few years, the movie could have harmed his self-confidence as well.
“We can see how hit-or-miss Ishan Kishan is. He’ll score runs in one game, but not the next. This type of player would benefit from playing at the fourth or fifth spot, where he can adjust his swing based on the game’s circumstances. However, in this instance, you chose to start him at the top of the order, implying to Rohit Sharma that you lack confidence in him against Trent Boult’s left-arm bowling. Doing that to a long-time player in that position will make him believe that he lacks the ability.”
“We would have applauded the decision if Ishan Kishan had scored 70 runs today. However, if the strategy fails, you’ll face a backlash “he went on to say.
Trent Boult took three wickets in four overs as India were all out for 110 in 20 overs. Ish Sodhi took two wickets, while Tim Southee and Adam Milne each took one.
In top form, with Sodhi taking the wickets of Rohit and Kohli, the New Zealand bowlers. While this was going on, Southee bowled Rahul out for a duck, and Boult got rid of Kishan for a crucial wicket. Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur were also dismissed by Boult.
New Zealand took 14.3 overs to complete the 111-run chase. The Black Caps were led by Daryl Mitchell’s 49 off 35 deliveries, and Kane Williamson’s unbeaten 33 off 31 balls kept him unbeaten.
