Ravi Shastri Blames Poor Shot Selection for India’s Boxing Day Test Loss and Grip on Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Ravi Shastri Highlights Key Reasons Behind India’s Boxing Day Test Defeat

In a recent analysis, former India head coach Ravi Shastri pinpointed poor shot selection as the primary reason for India’s loss in the Boxing Day Test against Australia, a defeat that jeopardizes their grip on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With critical dismissals of star players including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant, the team faces mounting pressure ahead of the Sydney Test.

Shot Selection Under Scrutiny

Shastri, writing for The Daily Telegraph, emphasized the dire consequences of the team’s lack of discipline in shot selection during the middle session of the final day. He noted, “It was unfortunate that some poor shot selection cost India the game, likely ensuring they may have lost their grip on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with one Test remaining.”

Key Performances and Tactical Analysis

The captaincy performances of Rohit Sharma and Australia’s Pat Cummins were notably contrasting. While Cummins excelled, leading his team to a 184-run victory, Rohit struggled, contributing to a significant collapse in the second innings. Shastri remarked, “One of the dismissals involved the captain who is struggling. This doesn’t help when Cummins raises his game significantly while Rohit is below par.”

Path Ahead for Team India

With Australia leading the series 2-1, Team India is under pressure to win the final Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A loss or even a draw would hand the trophy back to Australia for the first time since the 2014-15 series. The upcoming Sydney Test will be crucial for the Indian side, who will need to reassess their strategy and execution to bounce back.

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