Rohit Sharma and Co. draws flak from cricketing world after losing 1st test against England at Hyderabad

India losing the first test against England at Hyderabad by 28 runs is drawing criticism for poor captaincy tactics from Rohit Sharma from all corners. From Indian fans on social media, cricket pundits to ex-Indian cricketers all are in unison on Rohit Sharma’s lacklustre captaincy in the Test which let the match slip from India’s hands even after getting a sizeable lead of 190 runs in the first innings.

It is the second-highest first-innings lead for a team in India that turned into a loss. The first one was the 274-run lead that Australia got against India in the iconic 2001 test match where India went on to win the match even after playing the follow-on.

Ex-Indian cricketers slammed India’s tactics

Indian wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik who’s taken on the commentary duties in the series found the approach of Rohit Sharma and the Indian bowlers in the 1st Test to be very defensive. He weighed that on the defensive field setting of the Indian team even to the less recognized batters.

Speaking to Jio Cinema after the match, Karthik said, “India has been too defensive. I can understand being defensive to Pope but to Tom Hartley, Jadeja and Ashwin should get attacking fielders and not so many sweepers."

Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri also spoke on similar lines. He said that the Indian team is not used to the opposition piling up more than 400 runs and when England did the Indian team panicked.

Ravi Shastri said, “The body language is dropping. This is an unknown territory for India. You can sense the home team is under pressure. They are not used to visiting teams pilling on 400-plus runs in the third innings."

The Indian team is currently getting flak from all corners for letting England take the match away even after restricting them to a below-par score in the first innings and taking a substantial lead in the first innings of 190 runs. Ollie Pope turned out to be the saviour of England in the match and played a generational innings of 196 runs on a low and slow Hyderabad track turning the tide in favour of England. The second test of the series will begin on February 2 in Visakhapatnam.