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Former Indian opener and member of the 2011 World Cup-winning team Gautam Gambhir has slammed the management for its decision to demote vice-captain Rohit Sharma in the all-important T20 World Cup contest on Sunday.
Indian team management and captain Virat Kohli demoted Rohit in a must-win game against New Zealand and the decision back-fired as makeshift opener Ishan Kishan departed after scoring just four runs.
Gambhir termed Rohit as India’s best white-ball cricketer, saying that changing his batting position was a ‘negative thinking’ from the management.
“If you expect Ishan Kishan to do something that Rohit Sharma can’ then there are issues and it’s the wrong mindset. If you are thinking that Ishan Kishan will give you a flying start of 60 runs in the first six overs and then Virat and Rohit can come and milk it, it is wrong because we haven’t seen a better white-ball cricketer than Rohit Sharma. The player has four T20I hundreds and you are still batting him at No.3 then it’s negative thinking,” Gambhir told ESPNcricinfo.
The think tank’s decision to open the innings with Kishan didn’t pay dividends and Gambhir described the changes in the batting order as a sign of ‘panic in the dressing room’.
“You could have opened with Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul and if Virat Kohli had to play at No.4 only then Ishan Kishan could have come at No.3 I believe that one change forces you to make a lot more. Virat Kohli changed his own position, Rohit Sharma’s position- this shows your mentality and that there’s panic in the dressing room,” added Gambhir.
Batting first India managed to put up a paltry 110 for seven in 20 overs, with a lacklustre batting display from the top order. In response, the Black Caps chased down the target with 33 balls to spare, winning the contest by 8 wickets.
India will next take on Afghanistan on Wednesday, November 3 in Abu Dhabi.
