India were given a reality check by New Zealand in the first Test of the three-match series at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The hosts were bundled out for just 46 runs in the first innings while batting first. However, India tried to make a comeback in the second innings but could only set a target of 107 runs for New Zealand to win. The visitors stunned India with a 8-wicket win and finally registered their first Test win in India after 36 years.
It wasn’t a memorable Test match for both India and the skipper Rohit Sharma. After the hosts were bowled for 46 in the first innings, Rohit accepted that he made a blunder by choosing to bat first. However, coming to defend 107 on day 5, Rohit brought fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj from both ends. Even Bumrah and Siraj troubled the Kiwi batters in the start, the visitors were still finding runs through edge and extra deliveries.
I think tactically for Rohit Sharma, this Test match wasn’t his greatest” Sanjay Manjrekar
In his interview with ESPN Cricinfo, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar questioned Rohit Sharma’s approach while defending 107 runs in the final day of the Test match. Manjrekar revealed that he was shocked to see pace bowlers starting from both the ends on day five and also mentioned that this match wasn’t great for Rohit as a captain tactically.
“I can understand Siraj getting one or two overs and Bumrah getting a long spell. But Siraj getting 6 overs in that forespell, I think that is far too many and already a lot of runs on the board, and you had that little margin to chase. And another part is Aswhin. When there is no lavish turn on the pitch, the captain tends to use him with a new ball. He would have been tough for the Kiwi batters had he started off with Bumrah, and even if he had come in in the fourth over of the innings,” Sanjay Manjrekar said.
“The thing with pacers, you might get wickets, but there are always runs coming through edges….I was a bit surprised, I think tactically for Rohit Sharma, this Test match wasn’t his greatest,” the former cricketer added.
