'It Was A Blunder': Former Pakistan Cricketer Speaks Up On India's Batting Failure vs New Zealand
Photo : PTI
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has said that it was a blunder from the Indian team management to opt to bat first in Bengaluru given there was a lot of moisture on the track and credited New Zealand for putting up a brilliant show with the ball. Several experts have spoken on similar lines, especially after India put up a shambolic batting effort.
Basit Ali also said that India skipper Rohit Sharma's reflexes looked weak in both batting and fielding departments on Day 2 of the opening Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru.
Notably, Rohit scored just two runs with the bat and also dropped a catch from Will Young. The latter scored crucial 33 runs during his 73-ball stay in the middle.
"It was a blunder because there was a lot of moisture on the pitch. Credit goes to New Zealand. I was not expecting that India would get out so quickly," Basit said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
India's woes increased after Devon Conway's belligerent 91. Basit Ali said that Rohit's reflexes have reduced, exemplifying his struggles with the bat as well as while fielding.
"The fielding was not up to mark. It was a bad shot from Rohit. I feel Rohit's reflexes have gone slightly weak both in batting and slip," Basit Ali said.
Conway and Young (33), who was dropped on 32 by Rohit at first slip off Ravindra Jadeja, staved off India’s charges. The former brought up his half-century in just 54 deliveries with a six off ace India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin over the bowler’s head.
Tim Southee castled Rohit, who opted rather unexplainably to bat first in conditions which were more Christchurch than sub-continental, with a nip-backer.
Even at that point, a slip-up akin to that 36 all-out in Adelaide was unimaginable. But that horror script from three years ago found an encore in Bengaluru, as India were all out after lunch, defeating the previous lowest of 75 they made against the Windies in New Delhi in 1987.
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