(Source X)
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has voiced criticism towards Gautam Gambhir following India’s disappointing performance in the first ODI against Sri Lanka on August 2. The match, which was the opener of a three-game series, concluded in a tie after India failed to seize a favorable position.
Sri Lanka batted first and posted a modest total of 230/8, thanks to half-centuries from Pathum Nissanka and Dunith Wellalage. For India, Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel were the standout bowlers, each claiming two wickets.
In response, India also managed 230 runs before being all out, resulting in a tie. Indian captain Rohit Sharma provided a strong start with a rapid 33-ball fifty and shared a 75-run partnership with Shubman Gill. However, Wellalage’s quick dismissals of both Sharma and Gill left India at 80 for 2.
Despite being in a promising position, India faltered as key players including Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel failed to secure the victory. In a dramatic turn, Dube hit a boundary in the 48th over to level the scores.
With only a single run needed and two wickets remaining, victory seemed assured for India. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka’s captain Charith Asalanka dismissed both Dube and Arshdeep Singh in consecutive deliveries, leaving India all out at 230 and the match ending in a tie.
Basil Ali criticizes Gautam Gambhir
Despite a promising start, India fell short of chasing down 231 runs, leading Basit Ali to critique head coach Gautam Gambhir’s decision to promote all-rounder Washington Sundar to number four. The move was intended to counteract the challenges posed by left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage, who had been troubling India’s right-handed batsmen.
However, Sundar’s promotion did not pay off; he was dismissed for just 5 runs by Akila Dananjaya. Ali argued that Gambhir’s strategy of introducing Sundar in the middle order, even with the intention of creating a left-right batting combination, was not a sound choice.
“He sent Sundar at 4, which was a surprise for me. Was Gautam trying to do a left-right combination? I think sending Sundar at number 4 doesn’t make sense,” Basit Ali said on his YouTube channel.
India will aim to secure an unassailable lead in the series with a victory in the second ODI, set to take place on Sunday, August 2.
