Gargi Raut in Sydney
The iconic Sydney Cricket Ground showcased an out-of-the-ordinary pitch as India’s batting lineup faltered in the series decider of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. After a collective decision from the management, Rohit Sharma, the skipper, opted out of the match, yet India’s batters struggled on a tacky surface, losing three wickets in the morning session and Virat Kohli shortly after the second one began.
While Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja tried to put up a fight, Scott Boland dismantled the Indian innings with his relentless consistency. By the end of the day, it was Pant who had the top score of 40, while Jadeja contributed 26 and late boundaries from Jasprit Bumrah, captaining the side, pushed the total past 180. Boland’s brilliant four-wicket haul, supported by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, left India with more questions than answers.
As the bowlers prepare to defend a modest total, the focus after the opening day is on India’s recurring batting woes. Is the problem rooted in strategy, execution, or an unclear approach?
Ahead of the Melbourne Test, Rohit Sharma had highlighted the challenges of batting abroad, stating: “It’s difficult to set in, and batters have been unable to convert their starts.”
He expressed his confidence in the young batters – Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal – suggesting that they “know what they need to do.” Yet, these assurances seem disconnected from the repeated failures on the field.
Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach, echoed the same sentiment ahead of this game, saying: “All individuals know what they need to do.”
A recurring theme from India’s press conferences was that “we know what we need to do”, yet the execution on the field told a different story. Does it highlight a disconnect between individual awareness and overarching strategy? Or does it raise doubts about the Indian batting line-up’s approach? Or does the contrast between planning and implementation show the lack of ability in the batters?