India’s shocking collapse in Bengaluru against New Zealand has left fans questioning key decisions made by the team management. Skipper Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir came under scrutiny after the team was bowled out for a mere 46 runs. While New Zealand’s bowling was impressive, it was some critical decisions that backfired for India, leading to their poor show at home.
Early Decision to Bat First Raises Eyebrows
The first questionable decision came when Rohit Sharma opted to bat after winning the toss. The Bengaluru pitch had been under covers as rain had washed out play on the first day. With moisture on the pitch and overcast conditions, it was clear that fast bowlers would benefit in the early hours of the day. To add to this, the game started with the floodlights on, signaling how gloomy the conditions were.
Despite these clear indicators, India chose to bat first, which surprised many experts. With New Zealand boasting three top fast bowlers in their lineup, the decision to bat appeared risky from the start. Rohit’s choice to bat first not only raised concerns among fans but also gave New Zealand bowlers a perfect setting to dominate early.
Aggressive Shot Selection Backfires
After the decision to bat first, India’s top-order failed to adopt the patience needed in such testing conditions. Rohit Sharma himself set the tone for a poor batting approach when he tried to hit a big shot against Tim Southee and got bowled.
New Zealand’s bowlers were continuously troubling the Indian batsmen with their sharp deliveries. But instead of focusing on building the innings, several Indian players took unnecessary risks. Sarfaraz Khan, promoted to number four, fell cheaply after trying to hit a lofted shot too early in his innings. KL Rahul’s attempt to flick a leg-stump delivery also led to his dismissal, leaving India struggling to hold the innings together.
India needed to play carefully, especially in such seamer-friendly conditions. However, the aggressive approach in these tough situations resulted in quick dismissals, making it easier for New Zealand to wrap up the Indian innings in no time.
Batting Order Mistakes Add to the Woes
India’s troubles were compounded by their decisions around the batting order. Shubman Gill, usually the team’s number three, was unavailable due to a neck injury. This forced the team management to make a replacement decision, but their choice raised more questions.
Virat Kohli was sent in at number three—a position he hadn’t played in for eight years. With Kohli’s recent form not being his best, this move didn’t seem logical. His previous record at this spot wasn’t great either, and once again, he couldn’t handle the new ball, falling to an excellent delivery by New Zealand’s pacers.
The decision to promote Sarfaraz Khan to number four was another error. Sarfaraz, relatively inexperienced in such critical situations, struggled to cope with the pressure and ended up giving his wicket cheaply. The choice to keep KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant lower down the order, when both had more experience, left many fans baffled. Rahul, in particular, could have been a better option to handle the new ball at number three.
Lessons to be Learned from the Collapse
This Bengaluru match was a crucial reminder of the importance of reading the conditions and making calculated decisions. While New Zealand’s fast bowlers deserve credit for their excellent performance, India’s poor decisions and shot selections made the task easier for the visitors.
By misjudging the pitch conditions, adopting a risky approach with aggressive shots, and experimenting with the batting order, Team India found themselves in an uncomfortable situation ahead of their upcoming tour of Australia. These mistakes are something that the team management, especially Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir, will need to address quickly if they want to avoid a repeat of such a disastrous performance.
