Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar assessed the dismissals of Indian top-order batters against Australia in the Ultimate World Test Championship final, in Kennington Oval on Thursday. Indian batters had a good start to their innings before losing their wickets in quick succession in some unconventional manners.
India’s top order comprising skipper Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, experienced Cheteshwar Pujara, and Virat Kohli departed cheaply after settling in a bit, as the Australian skipper Pat Cummins brilliantly rotated his bowlers to take vital wickets in the regular intervals.
Speaking on Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar analyzed the dismissal of the Indian batters as feels that Shubman Gill completely misread the ball coming in from Scott Boland and also highlighted that the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma hasn’t been in form for some time and also added the Pujara didn’t cover his off-stumps which lead to dismissal in the 1st innings and reckons that these kinds of dismissals can be avoided.
“I think it’s a couple of misjudgments from probably like Shubman Gill, who has been in great form. Losing him was a big blow. Rohit Sharma has been not in the best of touches in the IPL. So, his playing across the line was not that much of a surprise. But again Pujara, not quite covering his stumps and getting out. So these were the dismissals that could have been avoided”.
“But to Australia’s credit, they bowled a much fuller length and got the batters into thinking that the line was such that most batters – however good you are, that off stump, there is always a little bit of uncertainty,” Sunil Gavaskar said in Star Sports.
Australian bowlers were brilliant with the ball, during the bowling innings of the game, as the pacers were accurate in the line and length and executed the team plan very well against every batter. Pat Cummins-led bowling attack picked one wicket each of the five wickets that fell on the 1st innings of India so far.
It’s Almost Like Ajinkya Rahane Has Been Reborn As A Test Player – Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on the comeback of Ajinkya Rahane for his calm and composed batting in the 1st innings, stating that he had prepared hard to take on the bowlers and feels that he has been reborn as a test player in the WTC final, even though he had some luck on his side, before an LBW call being overturned due to the no-ball of Australian skipper Pat Cummins.
“He has been in very good form in the IPL. We have seen a different Rahane. Somebody prepared to take the attack to the bowling. He used to do that earlier on as well. But you know after a while, when you are one of the main batters, the responsibility can be that you curb a few shots. But it’s almost like he has been reborn as a Test player,” Sunil Gavaskar added.
The Mumbai-born cricketer played pivotal for Chennai Super Kings in their title-winning campaign in IPL 2023. Ajinkya Rahane will have a crucial role to play on Day 3 alongside inexperienced KS Bharat, as the pitch might ease out a little with the old ball, as the last recognized batting pair they would look to put some vital partnership to help India reduce the lead against Australia on Friday.