Australia dominated India on the opening day of the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Opting to bat first, the visitors posted 255/4 on the board at stumps on Day 1. Opener Usman Khawaja starred with the bat as he stayed unbeaten on 104.
For the hosts, Mohammad Shami (2-65) returned with a couple of scalps while R Ashwin (1-57) and Ravindra Jadeja (1-49) chipped in with wicket apiece.
After the day’s play, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar expressed disappointment with India's effort in the final hour.
India skipper Rohit Sharma’s decision to take the second new-ball backfired as they conceded 54 runs in the last 9 overs. The home team took the red cherry in the 82nd over and Umesh Yadav gave away 12 runs in his first over with the second new-ball. Shami then leaked 6 runs following which the captain brought in spin but it didn’t yield the desired result.
"It's best to have the conversation after a little while, not immediately. Because they will be very disappointed with their effort in the last hour after having taken the second new ball, to concede the number of runs they did and to concede the number of boundaries that they did. It was almost as if the Australians broke free when the second new ball was taken," Gavaskar said while speaking to Star Sports.
"The first couple of overs from your new ball bowlers, that's not what you want to see when you have got a brand new ball in your hand. The effort could have been better. I know it was a hot day, it takes a lot out of the fast bowlers. But you have got a brand new ball, playing for India, I think the effort could have been a little bit better. Any conversation about the showing can be had tomorrow morning, let the bowlers themselves mull over what they did today," he added.
Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar was also critical of India's decision to take the second new ball straightaway on Day 1 of the Ahmedabad Test.
Manjrekar felt the hosts had the option to delay taking the second new ball, questioning Rohit Sharma's tactics.
"This is where it's interesting. When you watch cricket in the 80s and 90s, when the second new ball was available, there was a lot of thought given to whether we should go for it because the old ball was working well enough for you. This is a pitch where magic won't happen, the second new ball is not going get you 4-5 wickets. it's not impossible, but it's highly unlikely. Teams mulled over and saw whether the old ball was good enough. But, India went for the attacking option, took the 2nd new ball," Manjrekar told Star Sports.
"This was slightly on the cards because it was a flat pitch, the spinners were not going to get anything out of it. The seam bowlers were bowling well with the old ball. India had got a couple of quick wickets.
"Maybe, they could have carried on with the old ball for another 10 overs. if they would have found out that nothing was happening with the old ball, then they should have picked the 2nd new ball. The second new ball in these conditions is a double-edged sword. Cameron Green has got his eyes in," he further remarked.
