Team India’s disappointing performance in the World Test Championship Final has led to questions and analysis from cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar. The Indian team struggled with both bat and ball against a well-prepared Australian side, ultimately resulting in a heartbreaking defeat.
Tendulkar criticises dropping Ashwin
Tendulkar took to Twitter to congratulate Australia on their victory and acknowledged the solid foundation set by Travis Head and Steve Smith in the match. He highlighted the importance of India batting big in the first innings to stay in the game, but the team couldn’t deliver when it mattered the most.
The batting maestro also emphasised that skillful spinners like Ravichandra Ashwin don’t solely rely on turning tracks to excel. They utilise drift in the air and bounce off the surface to deceive batsmen with their variations. Tendulkar noted that Australia’s lineup consisting of five left-handers posed a unique challenge for India’s bowling attack.
“Congratulations to Team Australia on winning the #WTCFinal. @stevesmith49
and @travishead34 set a solid foundation on Day one itself to tilt the game in their favour. India had to bat big in the first innings to stay in the game, but they couldn’t. There were some good moments for Team India, but I fail to understand the exclusion of @ashwinravi99 in the playing XI, who is currently the number one Test bowler in the world. Like I had mentioned before the match, skillful spinners don’t always rely on turning tracks, they use drift in the air and bounce off the surface to disguise their variations. Not to forget, Australia had 5 left-handers out of their top 8 batters”, Sachin’s tweet read.
Scott Boland berates India
In the pursuit of a mammoth 444-run chase on Day 5, the Indian batsmen faltered and lost seven wickets before the Lunch break, effectively ending their chances of claiming the World Test Championship title for the second consecutive season. Scott Boland emerged as the standout bowler, dismissing Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja in a single over to seal the match. Nathan Lyon also made significant contributions, taking four wickets to wrap up the Indian tail swiftly.
The defeat has raised questions about India’s team selection and their ability to perform under pressure in crucial matches. Tendulkar’s analysis highlights the key areas where India fell short and acknowledges the formidable challenge posed by the Australian team.
