ENG vs IND 2018: Ajit Agarkar Criticises Virat Kohli's Captaincy

Ajit Agarkar has criticised the tactics of Virat Kohli after England pulled back things on day three of the fourth England vs India Test.

India had the chance to take complete command of the game after starting the day in a strong fashion. Even before Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings could wipe out the slender 27-run lead,  Jasprit Bumrah sent back the former. Moeen Ali also failed to get going as India found themselves two down for just 33. Joe Root and Jennings then steadied the ship with a fifty-plus stand.

However, Mohammed Shami once again put India on top by dismissing Jennings and Jonny Bairstow on successive deliveries to reduce England to 92 for 4.  Joe Root was soon run-out by Shami as England found themselves 5 down for just 122. But then India failed to make the most of the situation. Virat Kohli’s decision to persist with R Ashwin baffled everyone as the spinner failed to take wickets on a friendly track.

By the time the day ended, England finished on 260 for 8 with their lead extended to 233. And Agarkar feels Kohli’s decision to now bowl Shami much allowed the game to drift.

“I think Shami was the best bowler from the day and he bowled the least amount of overs from the top-four bowlers. For a period of 31 overs, he didn’t get to bowl. I think it is similar to what Root did, let the game drift a little bit. Again Ashwin kept bowling from one end. I can understand they wanted a lot more from Ashwin. He had a tough day. One would have expected him to impact the game with a lot more of wickets. That wasn’t necessary of him. And Hardik Pandya, just to get India off to a new ball, comes and bowls nine overs for almost four runs an over and without getting a wicket is just getting the game goes along,” the former Indian pacer told ESPN Cricinfo.

“When you know it is your second innings, and you know you don’t need to conserve your bowler for another innings, and then you give the new ball to Ashwin. On other days, it is understandable, but you have to pick your best bowlers on the day. These factors have made a definite impact on the game,” he added.

Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes revived the innings with a 56-run stand. Ashwin broke the stand by dismissing Stokes for 30. Buttler, however, went on to compile a fine fifty and share a 55-run stand with Sam Curran to bat England to a position of strength. Ishant then gave India the much-needed breakthrough by dismissing Buttler. But Curran and Adil Rashid continued to frustrate the visitors and ensured England close the day without losing any more wicket.