“Do you ask Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to bat at 5 or 6?” – Sunil Gavaskar questions India captain’s leadership for not giving first over to Bumrah

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar questioned India’s captain Rohit Sharma’s leadership for not giving the first over to Jasprit Bumrah against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York on Sunday.

India was defending a low target of 120 runs but Rohit decided to open the bowling innings with Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj. Bumrah was introduced into the attack in the third over of the innings by Sharma.

The Indian pack leader was quick to make an impact, removing Babar Azam in his second over. Bumrah also got rid of Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed and returned with match-winning figures of 3-14 in his quota of four overs. But the Little Master feels Bumrah should have bowled the opening over of the innings.

“The bowlers very seldom get credit in Indian cricket. So it was good to see the way they came back. Again, I thought maybe Bumrah should have bowled the first over, not the third over. Why waste 12 deliveries? Give it to your best bowler,” Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

“Do you ask Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to bat at five or six? They are your best batters, so they bat one and two. The best bowler gets to bowl first ball if he is a fast bowler. However, whatever it is, India kept their nerve and won the game and that is the most important thing because I think Pakistan lost their nerve despite being 57/1 at the halfway stage,” the former India captain added.

The Little Master feels the bowlers saved the batters as the team’s batting was not up to the mark against Pakistan. 

“I think the bowlers saved the batters because the way they batted, and I said it at the halfway stage, the batting was a bit arrogant and a bit reckless as well. They kept on playing shots when there was really no need,” he elaborated.

Gavaskar slammed the batters for going for the glory shots, which led to their downfall.

“I think the bowlers saved the batters because the way they batted, and I said it at the halfway stage, the batting was a bit arrogant and a bit reckless as well. They kept on playing shots when there was really no need,” he elaborated.

India will next take on the USA at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York on Wednesday.