Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali didn’t hold back on his words to criticize Indian head coach Rahul Dravid for the Indian team’s bowling display against Australia in the Ultimate World Test Championship final in Kennington, Oval. Team India will have a huge task to cut out if they have to make a comeback in the game, as the Baggy Greens are comfortably placed at the end of Day 3.
Rahul Dravid’s stint as the Indian team head coach has come under the scanner following the Indian team’s performance in the longer format of the game on overseas soil and in the ICC events, where the Men in Blue could not make an impactful performance in the high-octane tournament.
Speaking on his youtube channel, Basit Ali launched an attack on Indian team management over the decision to bowl in the 1st innings and slammed the Indian pacers for their display of fast bowling on the 1st day of the game and feels that only a miracle can save the Indian team from a defeat and also added that most of the Indian players look overcooked during the 1st innings.
“India lost the match the moment they chose to bowl worrying about the first two hours. And the kind of bowling that was on display was just like IPL. By lunch, the Indian bowlers appeared so happy as if they’d won the match. All India can do now is hope to get them out cheaply and hope for a miracle in the fourth innings. During the 120 overs that India fielded, I could see only 2-3 players being fit – Rahane, Kohli, and Jadeja. The rest looked tired,” Basit Ali said.
Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur could not play the role of the third and fourth pacer in the team, as they could not make an impact for the team in the 1st innings. Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami were impressive in the 1st and 2nd spells as they looked tired in the final session with a new ball.
God Knows What Rahul Dravid Was Thinking – Basit Ali
Basit Ali, who played 19 Tests and 50 ODIs for Pakistan, said that he admires Rahul Dravid as a class player in International Cricket and lambasted the Indian head coach as absolutely zero in his coaching stints, stating that the Indian management has failed to read the conditions in Kennington Oval.
“I am a huge Rahul Dravid fan, have always been and will remain. He is a class player, a legend. But as a coach, he is absolutely zero. You are prepared to turn pitches on India. Just answer me this. When India travelled to Australia, were there similar wickets? They had bouncy pitches, right? God knows what he was thinking,” Basit Ali added.
Many cricket experts and fans have criticized the Indian management’s decision to drop World No.1 spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in favour of Shardul Thakur and Umesh Yadav, as they could not do enough damage with their bowling in the 1st innings of the game.