As Travis Head and Steve Smith scored massive runs on Day 2 of the third BGT 2024 Test at the Gabba, Indian players' shoulders slumped, as did captain Rohit Sharma's ability to think properly.
Whether it was Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja, or Nitish Reddy, none of the Indian bowlers appeared to have the strategy to break the Head-Smith combo.
The duo added 241 runs for the 4th wicket with Travis Head scoring 152 and Steve Smith breaking his run of poor scores with a sublime 101.
During one of the overs from Siraj, his and skipper Rohit's field placement was also branded 'dumb' by none other than Australia great Simon Katich.
The incident happened when Mohammed Siraj tried to bowl a bouncer to Head, who just ramped the ball over the keeper’s head for an easy four. This happened after Siraj and Rohit Sharma had removed the third man just a delivery before.
"That is unbelievable from Mohammed Siraj because the over before he had a man right in at the spot and he has run in and bowled what they were planning without a fielder there. That is dumb. Dumb cricket.
They have two men on the legside, deep point, and a man right at that spot for this plan to Travis Head and then he doesn't have the fielder. Now he is going to put the fielder right there. The horse has bolted buddy,” Katich was heard on Cricket 7 commentary.
Rohit's bowler rotation and match-ups against different Australian hitters were also called into question at various points during the game. The India captain also faced criticism when he announced his decision to put Ravindra Jadeja into the playing XI, removing Ravichandran Ashwin from the squad for the third Test.
