Gautam Gambhir Unimpressed With Virat Kohli's Captaincy Tactics And India's Selection Errors

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has not been impressed by Virat Kohli’s captaincy as India suffered their second successive ODI series loss and are on a five-match losing streak. After losing the opener in Sydney by 66 runs, India surrendered the second game by 51 runs to concede the rubber too. Gautam Gambhir has mainly blasted Virat Kohli for how he managed his bowlers.

India’s esteemed bowling attack, which was considered one of the best and effective too regardless of the conditions, appeared toothless against Australia’s mighty and deep batting line-up. Not only have the openers managed a 100-run stand in both the games but also Steve Smith raised consecutive tons in 62 balls as the hosts plundered 374 and 389 in the first two games respectively, handing India unrealistic chases

Gautam Gambhir admitted he felt baffled by Virat Kohli’s captaincy as one keeps emphasizing how crucial it is to take wickets; however, the captain does not give their frontline bowlers an extended spell. Gautam Gambhir conceded that usually in a One-day game there are three spells. Hence, removing the premier bowlers out of their attack was out of Gambhir’s understanding and had no words to describe the same.

“I can’t understand the captaincy to be honest. We kept talking about how important is to take wickets upfront if we have to stop this kind of batting line-up and then you make your premier bowler bowl two overs. Normally, in a One Day game probably there are three spells of 4-3-3 overs. Or probably the maximum is four overs. But if you stop your premier fast bowler just by bowling two overs upfront with the news, I can’t understand that kind of captaincy. I probably can’t even explain that captaincy. It is not T20 cricket. I probably can’t understand the reason to be honest because that was poor captaincy,” Gambhir told ESPN Cricinfo.

They could have given someone like Washington Sundar or Shivam Dube: Gautam Gambhir

The former Indian opener has repeatedly urged India to consider a sixth bowling option, claiming that Washington Sundar or Shivam Dube could get the role and see how they do in the format. Gambhir feels that such selection errors and miscalculations might probably come to hurt the visitors later.

“They could have given someone like Washington Sundar or Shivam Dube or whoever was there in the squad to play the next game and see how they go into the one-day format. But if you don’t have anyone in Australia then it is a selection error as well. Unless and until you don’t judge someone you will never be able to find how good he is at the international level. India has not taken those options to Australia and those might come back to hurt them big time,” he added.

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