Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary former India captain, has sparked a debate with his recent comments on Rohit Sharma’s captaincy during the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. Gavaskar criticized Rohit for his defensive field placements, calling him a “negative captain” and suggesting that his tactics were overly cautious
SOURCE : ZEE
The match began with India making three changes to their lineup, including the inclusion of Washington Sundar, Shubman Gill, and Akash Deep. Under Rohit’s leadership, India managed to restrict New Zealand to 259 on the opening day. However, Gavaskar was not impressed with Rohit’s field settings, particularly the placement of fielders at long-on and long-off for the spinners before any lofted shots were played
Source:- bbc news
Gavaskar remarked, “If you had fielders like that – long-on and long-off – for the spinners before a lofted shot had been played, the captain would’ve been called a defensive captain. He’s a defensive captain, he’s a negative captain. Here now you try and block the boundaries.”
The former captain’s comments have stirred up a lot of discussion among fans and experts alike. Some agree with Gavaskar, arguing that Rohit’s tactics were too conservative and did not put enough pressure on the New Zealand batsmen. Others believe that Rohit was simply playing it safe, given the conditions and the need to avoid giving away easy runs
Rohit Sharma, known for his aggressive batting style, has faced criticism in the past for his cautious approach as a captain. Gavaskar’s comments highlight the fine line between being defensive and tactical, and whether Rohit’s strategy was the right one in this particular match
Despite the criticism, India ended the day at 16/1, trailing by 243 runs. Washington Sundar’s brilliant performance with the ball, taking a career-best 7 wickets for 59 runs, was a key factor in India’s strong position.
Share your views in the comments