Former Indian cricketer Ashish Neha feels that Indian skipper Virat Kohli took hasty decisions in the second ODI against Australia on Sunday. Australia had already taken a 2-0 unassailable lead in the ODI series against India by winning the second ODI by 51 runs.
Meanwhile, in the 1st and 2nd ODI against Australia, India’s playing XI issues have come out stronger. After playing the 1st ODI, Virat Kohli confirmed that all-rounder Hardik Pandya is currently not in a state to resume bowling due to his back issues.
Even Hardik Pandya himself came out to speak on his back issues after playing the first ODI. Pandya said that he is in the process of returning to bowl in international cricket but is still not match ready.
“I am thinking like a long-term plan, not short term where I exhaust myself and maybe have something else [injury] which is not there. So it is going to be a process, which I am following. I can’t tell you exactly when I am going to bowl but the process is on. In the nets, I am bowling. It is just that I am not game-ready but I am bowling. It is all about confidence and the skill has to be at an international level,” said Hardik Pandya.
It was indeed a shock when Kohli decided to give the ball to Pandya in the 2nd ODI and he went on to bowl 4 overs.
Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer and legend Ashish Nehra has pointed at the ‘hasty’ decision-making of Kohli in the 2nd ODI, at the Syndey Cricket Ground, with too many bowling changes. Further, he said that some of his decisions were so made in a hurry that they didn’t make sense. While Hardik Pandya bagged the wicket of centurion Steve Smith in his 4 overs, Kohli gave Mayank Agarwal an over to bowl too.
“In today’s game, Virat Kohli gave two overs to Mohammed Shami and then brought Navdeep Saini. He wanted Shami to bowl from the other end, that I understand, but then, why would he use Jasprit Bumrah for only two overs with the new ball?
I agree Virat Kohli is making frequent changes in bowling. He only had five bowling options. India used Mayank Agarwal and Hardik Pandya – it was a decision made on the ground. If things were going in India’s way, you would not have seen these two getting an over,” Nehra said on Cricbuzz.
“Virat Kohli is being hasty in his decisions. In the previous game (first ODI) as well, after Kohli was dropped, it seemed like he is in a hurry. Kohli has chased 350 several times in his career, it is not a big deal for him. But it seemed like he was chasing 475, not 375,” Nehra added.
Lastly, calling Virat Kohli an ‘impulsive captain’, Nehra said that Kohli needs to take care of their bowling department.
“I believe, Kohli is an impulsive captain. He is making too many changes in his bowling. And this is an area that he needs to take care of.”
Hosts Australia has already sealed a Series after winning the second convective ODI against India. The last and final ODI will be played in Canberra.