In the 1st Test match between India and New Zealand, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s strategic decisions came under scrutiny as India were all out for 46 in their 1st Innings.
From choosing to bat first on a pace-friendly, overcast pitch to altering the usual batting order by promoting Virat Kohli to No. 3, several choices backfired, leading to a dismal performance from the Indian team. These tactical missteps allowed New Zealand to dominate, raising questions about India’s approach and decision-making under Rohit’s captaincy.
Here are some key decisions made by Rohit Sharma during the 1st Test match between India and New Zealand in 2024 that could be viewed as questionable:
1. Choosing to Bat First in Overcast Conditions
- Decision: India won the toss and Rohit Sharma opted to bat first.
- Why It Was Questionable: The pitch had overcast, pace-friendly conditions, which are typically challenging for batsmen, especially in the first innings. New Zealand bowlers exploited these conditions effectively, leading to India being bowled out for just 46 runs. Given the swing and seam movement, choosing to bowl first might have been a better decision, allowing India’s pacers to capitalize on the conditions and put early pressure on New Zealand.
- Decision: Rohit and the team management decided to send Virat Kohli at No. 3, instead of his usual No. 4 spot.
- Why It Was Questionable: Kohli has been India’s most consistent player at the No. 4 position, with a strong record. Moving him up to No. 3 disrupted the team’s usual batting order, and Kohli’s early dismissal for a duck further weakened India’s innings. Critics, including former players like Anil Kumble, suggested that a more stable presence like Cheteshwar Pujara would have been a better fit at No. 3.
3. Not Strengthening the Middle Order
- Decision: The team went with a relatively inexperienced middle order, which struggled against New Zealand’s bowlers.
- Why It Was Questionable: With the batting collapse in mind, the decision to not include an extra experienced batter in the lineup was risky. India’s middle order looked fragile, and no one was able to anchor the innings when the top order fell cheaply. An additional batter, possibly in place of an all-rounder, could have stabilized the innings.
4. Under-utilizing Indian Pacers Early in New Zealand’s Innings
- Decision: Despite the overcast conditions early in the match, Indian bowlers didn’t extract the same level of swing and seam as their New Zealand counterparts.
- Why It Was Questionable: India could have been more aggressive with their pacers at the start of New Zealand’s innings. The decision to not press hard with pacers like Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah early on allowed New Zealand’s top order to settle, particularly Devon Conway, who built a strong foundation for the team.
5. Inability to Rotate Strike Against New Zealand Pacers
- Decision: Though this is more of a team-wide issue, the lack of adaptability to the conditions was a critical error. The Indian batters kept getting caught on the crease, failing to rotate strike and build partnerships.
- Why It Was Questionable: The lack of rotation made it easier for New Zealand’s bowlers to settle into a rhythm. As captain, Rohit Sharma could have set a plan for the batters to adapt and focus on rotating strike instead of playing defensively and getting bogged down.
