Ravi Shastri slams Rohit Sharma for his “negative mindset” during WTC Final against Australia

The former India coach felt that had India batted first, they could have put some pressure on Australia.

Ravi Shastri slams Rohit Sharma for his “negative mindset” during WTC Final against Australia

Ravi Shastri and Rohit Sharma (Image via Twitter and Sky Sport)

India and Australia are locking horns in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at The Oval in England. After India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and invited Australia to bat first, Mohammed Siraj complemented the decision and got Usman Khawaja early in the innings. David Warner too perished to Shardul Thakur after a 60-ball 43. Mohammed Shami then removed Marnus Labuschagne and it felt India are on the right track.

But things changed dramatically as soon as Travis Head walked in. The southpaw started thrashing the Indian bowlers which resulted in them erring in their line and length. The Australian batters then started to find boundaries at ease and soon it was panic in the Indian camp. The batting pair of Steve Smith and Travis Head stitched a 251-run partnership before Day 1 ended. 

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So, while it seemed Rohit Sharma made the right call to bowl first till the end of the first session, the move became questionable after the end of Day 1’s play. The first one to question the decision was former India coach Ravi Shastri who felt Sharma displayed a “negative mindset” by opting to bowl first. Shastri felt that India should have batted first. 

Also Read: “Flashbacks of 2011-12 today” – fans left irritated as Travis Head and Steve Smith put on 251-run partnership, Australia end with massive 327/3 on Day 1 of WTC Final

Ravi Shastri believes India should have batted first

team india wtc final day 1
Team India on Day 1 of WTC Final (Image via TOI Twitter)

The former India coach felt that had India batted first, they could have put some pressure on Australia. With questions arising on India’s playing XI (with no R Ashwin), Shastri felt that this move to bowl first affected the team combination. “From what came out today, the mindset was to field if they won the toss, hence the choices in the bowling department — four seamers one spinner,” Shastri told ICC after the end of the opening day’s play on Wednesday.

“If the mindset was positive you’d want to bat, rough it out in the first session and see if you can put 250 on board. Don’t think too big 250-260 and if the conditions got better and you saw the first session through, you could have got more,” he added.

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