India bowled Australia out for 197 runs in the first innings of the third Test match of the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Thursday, March 2. Former cricketers were shocked by Rohit Sharma’s decision to introduce veteran off-spinner R Ashwin after the first hour in the opening session of Day 2.

Ajit-Johnson criticized Rohit Sharma –

R Ashwin came to bowl after 15 overs of play in the morning session as India started proceedings with Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja and then Axar Patel. Australia won the first hour’s play without losing any wickets. Ashwin hit his second four, dismissing well-set batsman Peter Handscomb. He took the wickets of Alex Carey and Toddy Murphy.

Former India fast bowler Ajit Agarkar questioned premier spinner Ashwin for bowling only 16 overs. Agarkar and former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson criticized Rohit Sharma’s strategy for late inclusion of Ashwin in the attack on the second day.

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Ajit said in a commentary –

“Don’t think India have been spot-on with their tactics. No Ashwin in the first hour? He is your premier bowler and has bowled only 16 overs so far. I know Axar Patel is playing as a specialist spinner but got to go to Ashwin. It’s baffling.”

“It’s what he does to the right-handers from around the wicket that can really cause confusion. One might spin, and one might not. We’ve already seen Smith in this series, the one that ran past his bat,” Johnson agreed.