India’s tactics on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) have come under sharp criticism, with former head coach Ravi Shastri leading the charge. Australia’s commanding performance, highlighted by Steve Smith’s masterful 139* and Pat Cummins’ aggressive 49, was aided by what Shastri described as “ordinary” bowling and questionable decision-making by the Indian team.
Speaking on Star Sports, Shastri expressed disappointment over India’s failure to utilize their spinners effectively. Ravindra Jadeja bowled his first over after a 40-over gap, while Washington Sundar was introduced even later. Shastri questioned the rationale behind playing two spinners if they weren’t trusted to bowl in critical situations.
Resuming at 311/6, Australia dominated the morning session, racing past the 350-run mark and reaching 454/7 by lunch. Their approach was straightforward—preserve wickets early and add runs steadily, a plan they executed with ease against an Indian bowling attack that seemed to lack direction.
Shastri also criticized the team selection, pointing out that Sundar’s inclusion at the expense of a batter weakened India’s batting without leveraging the extra bowler. Sunil Gavaskar echoed similar sentiments, lamenting the misuse of the new ball and ineffective bowling by Akash Deep.
Praising Smith, Shastri highlighted his ability to capitalize on India’s lack of pressure, calling him a “relentless maestro.” With Australia in a dominant position, India’s bowlers face an uphill task to regain control, and the batting lineup must rise to the occasion to avoid a comprehensive defeat.
