Gavaskar also lauded the South African batters for their efforts in the Test series.
Former Indian captain and commentator Sunil Gavaskar questioned Team India's tactics after lunch on Day 4 of the third and final Test against South Africa at the Newlands in Cape Town after the tourists lost the match by 7 wickets to lose the Test series to the hosts on Friday (January 14).
South Africa shattered India's dreams of winning a historic first-ever Test series in the rainbow nation by chasing down the 212-run target on the fourth day to win the final Test and clinch the home Test series 2-1 in Cape Town.
After lunch on day four, South Africa needed 41 runs to win the series-deciding Test with seven wickets still in their hand. However, the hosts were close to victory, but India missed the trick by not using Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, or Shardul Thakur during those overs at Newlands.
Virat Kohli used Umesh Yadav and R Ashwin in the second session as South Africa took just 8.3 overs to score the remaining 41 runs to win quite easily by 7 wickets.
Gavaskar said on commentary for SuperSport: “It was a mystery to me why Shardul Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah did not bowl after Lunch. It was almost as if India had decided that they are not going to win this.”
Highlighting the defensive field placement when Ashwin was bowling, the legendary batter said: “The field placements there were for Ashwin (was not right)... There were singles available easily. Five fielders were in the deep. Let the batters take a chance that is your only opportunity to get them out.”
However, Gavaskar lauded the South African batters for their effort in the Test series, as they chased down a 200-plus score in the last two Tests against Team India.
He signed off by saying, “The pitches weren't the best for batting but the application shown by the South Africans in Johannesburg, the application shown by them in this Test as well has been praiseworthy. That showed the character of the team.”