India's Batting Collapse Sparks Selection Controversy
Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has launched a scathing criticism of team selection strategies following India's dramatic batting collapse in the ongoing second Test against South Africa in Guwahati. The Indian team was bundled out for just 201 runs on Day 3, prompting serious questions about the team management's decisions.
What Went Wrong in Guwahati?
After South Africa posted a formidable 489 runs in their first innings, thanks to Senuram Muthusamy's century and Marco Jansen's 91, the Indian batting lineup completely crumbled. The collapse was particularly concerning given the reshuffled batting order that saw several surprising changes from the first Test in Kolkata.
The most puzzling decision involved Washington Sundar, who was promoted to the crucial number 3 position in the first Test but was dramatically demoted to number 8 in Guwahati. This position was instead given to Sai Sudharsan, continuing India's ongoing experimentation with the number 3 slot since Cheteshwar Pujara last played Test cricket in 2023.
Shastri's Blunt Assessment
While on commentary duties, Shastri didn't hold back his thoughts about the selection chaos. "Absolutely not. It makes no sense. I can't figure out the reasoning," Shastri stated emphatically. "When they review this series, some of these selections will leave them puzzled."
The batting reshuffle proved disastrous as India struggled to reach the 200-run mark, with Marco Jansen returning to claim four crucial wickets. The situation was further complicated by Shubman Gill's absence due to a neck injury, which forced additional changes to the lineup.
India's continuous tinkering with the number 3 position has become a growing concern for cricket experts and fans alike. The team management's decision to change Washington Sundar's batting position after just one Test has raised serious questions about their long-term planning and strategy for the crucial batting slot.
