India’s unexpected defeat to New Zealand in the first Test in Bengaluru, former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary has openly criticized the strategic choices made by captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir. Tiwary expressed his concerns during a discussion on Cricbuzz’s YouTube channel, highlighting what he perceives as a lack of common sense in the team’s decision-making process.
One of Tiwary’s primary criticisms centered on India’s decision to bat first under overcast conditions after winning the toss. He found this choice puzzling, especially given the favorable conditions for seam bowling that could have been exploited by India’s pace attack. Tiwary remarked, “Sometimes I don’t understand the decisions. Common sense seems to be lacking. What the coach or captain is trying to prove is beyond my understanding.”
Further, Tiwary questioned the underutilization of veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin during New Zealand’s chase of a modest target of 107 runs. Ashwin, with over 500 Test wickets to his name, bowled only two overs in the second innings, a decision that Tiwary found baffling. He stated, “I knew that one of the spinners would be under-bowled, but I never imagined that it would be Ashwin. He has over 500 Test wickets. When you are defending 107, why didn’t you bring him in the attack alongside Jasprit Bumrah?”
Tiwary also emphasized the crucial role of the head coach in guiding the captain, especially during challenging situations. He suggested that Gambhir should have provided more support to Rohit Sharma in making tactical decisions. “Good captains also make mistakes because a lot of things go through your mind. Here, the role of the coach to give constant guidance is very important, but I don’t know why that did not happen,” Tiwary added.
The former cricketer also expressed concern over the team selection, particularly the exclusion of pacer Akash Deep, who had performed admirably in the preceding series against Bangladesh. Tiwary speculated that such decisions could adversely affect a player’s confidence. He noted, “Akash Deep’s confidence must’ve suffered a big blow when he found out he wasn’t part of the playing XI against Bangladesh. He was outstanding in the Bangladesh series, and his confidence would’ve been sky-high.”
India’s loss in Bengaluru marked New Zealand’s first Test victory on Indian soil in 36 years, a result that has led to widespread scrutiny of the team’s strategies and leadership. As the series progresses, the decisions made by Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir will continue to be closely examined by analysts and fans alike.
