Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar feels that the Indian team management didn’t trust Rohit Sharma to effectively combat the inswing of Trent Boult and, thus, the star opener was pushed down to No. 3 against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup clash on Sunday (October 31).
Middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav’s back spasm led to Ishan Kishan’s inclusion in the side and the southpaw was accommodated at the top of the order alongside KL Rahul.
Regarded as one of the modern-day greats in white-ball cricket, Rohit is a tad vulnerable to the incoming ball at the start of his innings and this weakness was exploited by left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi in the first game against Pakistan.
However, the move to send Rohit at No. 3 backfired as he scored 14-ball 14 in India’s below-par total of 110/7 in 20 overs, which the Kiwis chased down with 8 wickets in hand and 33 balls to spare.
"Ishan Kishan is a hit-or-miss player and it is better if a batsman like him walks in No 4 or No 5. He could then play according to the situation of the game. Now what has happened is that Rohit Sharma has been told that we don't trust you to face the left-arm fast bowling of Trent Boult," Gavaskar told India Today.
"If you do that to a player who has been playing at a position for so many years, he himself will think that maybe he doesn't have the ability.
"If Ishan Kishan had made 70-odd runs we would have applauded. But when the ploy doesn't work, you are going to be criticised," he added.
The move to shuffle the batting order saw Virat Kohli coming into bat at No. 4 and the Indian skipper fell for 17-ball 9.
Gavaskar did not agree with the changes in the batting order, saying: "I don't know if it is a fear of failure but I know that whatever changes they made to the batting order today did not work.”
"Rohit Sharma is such a great batsman and he has been sent in at No.3. Kohli himself, who has made so many runs at No.3 demotes himself to No.4. A young player like Ishan Kishan has been given the responsibility of opening the batting."
The result against New Zealand means that India will need other games to go their way if they are to reach the semi-finals.
India will next face Afghanistan at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (November 3).
