Rohit Sharma during the first Test between India and England© AFP
Veteran Indian cricket team wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik was not pleased with Rohit Sharma‘s ‘defensive’ approach on Day 4 of the first Test match against England on Sunday. Resuming at 316/6, Ollie Pope ended up scoring 196 as India were given a target of 231. Karthik said that India were very defensive in their approach from the start of the day and although it was understandable to be conservative in their tactics against Pope, he pointed out that against tail-enders like Tom Hartley, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja should have had attacking fielders to create pressure.
“India have 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,” Karthik said on JioCinema.
Legendary India cricketer Ravi Shastri also echoed similar sentiments as he said that it is ‘unknown territory’ for Rohit and Co for a visiting side to score over 400 runs in the third innings.
“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,” he said.
Pope hit 196 as England ended their second innings on 420 all out on Sunday’s day four, with India needing 231 runs to win the opening Test.
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah got four wickets and bowled Pope to wrap up the England innings in the first session in Hyderabad after the tourists resumed the day on 316-6.
England slipped to 163-5 on Saturday after starting the innings 190 runs behind, but Pope hit back with his fifth Test ton and a 112-run stand with Ben Foakes.
(With AFP inputs)
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