‘You were not batting against under-14 bowlers’ – Ex-India batter slams Australia for poor batting show
Gautam Gambhir: (Image Source: Twitter)
Former Indian batter Gautam Gambhir has slammed the Australian Cricket team for their poor batting performance in the second innings of the Delhi Test against India. The Pat Cummins’ side completely surrendered in front of the Indian spinners and got bowled out for 113 runs losing the last 9 wickets for 48 runs.
Apart from Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne, none of the Australian batters were able to cross double digits. Ravindra Jadeja turned out to be a nightmare for the visitors registering his career-best Test figures of 7/42. His spin mate Ravichandran Ashwin also took 3 wickets in the second innings. All the 10 wickets were shared by the spin duo.
“Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were the biggest threats, and Australia also knew that, but the way they batted was embarrassing. You don’t expect this from the World’s No. 1 team. An under-16 player will also not play such shots, the sort of shots the Australian batters played on this pitch,” said Gambhir during the discussion on Star Sports.
“Why did you have to play the sweep? I have seen such a brain fade very few times in international cricket. You might get out while defending or because of a technical flaw, but they come after telling in the dressing room which shots you can and cannot play on this pitch,” the former Indian further added.
A majority of Australian batters were dismissed while trying to play a sweep shot. Australia lost their last 9 wickets for 48 runs. Gambhir slammed Australia by saying that they were not playing against the ‘Under-14 bowlers’ and the players like Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin will not allow them to play sweep shots at the face which they ball.
“How many times did the Indian batters play the sweep on this wicket? How many sweeps did Peter Handscomb play in the first innings – none at all, and you came and just played the sweep,” said Gambhir.
“You were not batting against under-14 bowlers – how many sweeps will Ravichandran Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja allow you to play (at) the pace at which they bowl? I feel it was more than a surrender; it was as though you didn’t come to play at all,” he further added.
India chased down the winning total of 115 runs losing 4 wickets to take an unassailable lead of 2-0 in a four-match series. With this Indian also retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the the fourth consecutive time.
