Ravi Shastri points out Team India’s fault in opening Test against South Africa

Ravi Shastri (Photo Source: Twitter)

South Africa are in full control of the ongoing Boxing Day Test against India in Centurion. They bundled out the visiting team for 245 runs and following this, Dean Elgar scored a terrific century which helped the team take a lead of 11 runs after the completion of Day 2. The Indian bowlers have failed to make a mark with the ball so far as the Temba Bavuma-led side will aim to get the job done and take a lead in the two-match series.

Meanwhile, talking about India’s tactics with the ball, former head coach Ravi Shastri stated that the team management missed a trick, which cost them significantly. Notably, after lunch on Day 2, Rohit Sharma introduced Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna into the attack, which according to Shastri was a mistake. He wanted Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj to start right after the break as India leaked too many runs during that phase, which helped the Proteas build momentum.

“On any pecking order, these two (Shardul and Prasidh) would have been the last to start the proceedings (after lunch). That’s something that we’ve had a discussion multiple times when I was the coach. And more often than not we decided to go with the best two bowlers at the start of the session. If you cast your mind back, India would feel they have missed a massive trick in the first half hour of play. Two bowlers they started with, that tactically was a big mistake,” said Shastri during commentary on Star Sports.

It’s a window of opportunity that India lost: Vernon Philander

Former South Africa international Vernon Philander too believes that India lost an opportunity with the ball after lunch. He mentioned that the team management probably wanted to give a break to Bumrah and that according to him gave South Africa the much needed momentum.

“Perhaps they wanted to preserve him (Bumrah) after the 6-over spell he bowled (before lunch). I think it’s a window of opportunity that India lost. India gave away  42 runs and that gave South Africa the momentum after lunch. They lost an opportunity,” Philander said.