Rohit Sharma and Team India support staff (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra provided a critical analysis of India’s dismal performance in the second Test against Australia in Adelaide.
Reflecting on India’s collapse, Chopra pinpointed batting failures as the crux of the problem, emphasizing the lack of resolve and application from the Indian batters.
His remarks came after India folded twice in the Test, managing just 180 in the first innings and a paltry 175 in the second, leaving the visitors with no cushion against a formidable Australian bowling attack.
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Chopra underlined that the decision to bat first was sound given the conditions, but the execution left much to be desired. “Where did we go wrong? It’s a big question. The truth is that it was a batting failure, not once but twice. The decision to bat first was absolutely right. In the first innings when you got out for 180, you could have said that it happens. However, the second innings, the pitch had become flat now,” he said on his YouTube channel.
One of Chopra’s main observations was the lack of intent and patience from Indian batters to occupy the crease.
There was some help in the first innings for sure. If you are not going to bat 80 overs across two innings in a Test match, that is the problem. There is not one person in the team who said he would play 80-100 balls. Not a single player played 50 balls. We are talking about 50 runs but no one played 50 balls,” he pointed out.
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Despite high expectations from stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Rohit Sharma, no one managed to shoulder the responsibility. “It wasn’t a pitch where you couldn’t have played 50 balls. It wasn’t a pitch where you couldn’t have survived for a slightly longer time. You have to bat at least one session without losing a wicket,” he concluded.
“In the end, the Indian batting frailties were exposed once again. When wickets fall with the new ball, Virat Kohli is at No. 4, you are expecting a lot from Rishabh Pant but he hasn’t played a big knock so far in this series, and Rohit Sharma at No. 6, it’s not looking good. Our batting has let us down. That is the one big reason for India’s loss at Adelaide.”
Eyeing a strong comeback in the five-match series, India will face Australia in the third Test at The Gabba in Brisbane on December 14.
