Rohit Sharma’s decision to bowl first in the World Test Championship Final at the Oval has faced heavy criticism as Australia capitalized on the opportunity to score runs freely. Despite the initial overcast conditions, the absence of star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, in favor of Ravindra Jadeja, became a glaring omission as the sun came out in the second session.
Former India player Sourav Ganguly, who has returned to the commentary box, expressed his disappointment with Rohit’s decision to exclude Ashwin, emphasizing the significance of having top-quality spinners like Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, and Ravichandran Ashwin in the team.
“While the conditions favored the pacers initially, you can’t afford to drop players of the caliber of Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Even with the conditions, finding a way to include your best spinner should have been a priority,” commented Sourav Ganguly.
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After 64 overs, Australia stood strong at 232/3, with Usman Khawaja, David Warner, and Marnus Labuschagne already back in the dressing room. The decision to omit Ashwin has come under intense scrutiny as Australia continues to dominate the match.