India lost the three-match ODI series 2-1 to Australia.
Chasing 270 to win in the series-deciding third ODI at Chepauk, India’s innings folded for 248 in 49.1 overs, thus, losing the game by 21 runs.
After the series-conceding defeat, Indian team management’s decision to change the batting order came under the scanner. Despite doing well at No. 5, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul was promoted to No. 4 while Akshar Patel and Hardik Pandya were sent in to bat ahead of Suryakumar Yadav at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, veteran India spinner R Ashwin defended the team management’s decision, saying that the strategy would have worked if Akshar wasn’t run out.
“Surya came down the order, Akshar was promoted and KL Rahul batted at No.4, that was the talking point of the game. Please look at Australia’s batting order consistently. When Maxwell returns that’s how they will use him as well. Because they are players who can create impact. Suryakumar Yadav is also one such player. He plays spin really well. Australia won that’s why it didn’t become a talking point but Marnus Labuschagne who bats at No.4 had to bat at No.5 because of David Warner. If they had lost the game, these questions would have been asked. It’s decided based on the situation of the game, it’s a hunch call,” Ashwin stated.
“Why did they promote Akshar? If they promoted Akshar and he negated Zampa and Agar by taking them for 35 or 50 runs in 10 overs then the game was in India’s bag. So the intent was right but the run-out happened. The outcome wasn’t right,” he added.
Ashwin also talked about the harsh criticism that the Indian team faces whenever they lose, citing that it’s impossible for a team to win all the time.
“There is almost a compulsion that India should always win. There is an opinion that India is the strongest team. We are a strong team, no doubt about that but somewhere down the line, we assume ourselves to be an invincible cricketing nation. So the feedback coming from the public sometimes can be harsh. Even experts are very harsh with their criticisms these days,” he remarked.