“The strategy at the start of Day 3 was bad”

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned stand-in captain Rishabh Pant’s decision to start the third day of the first Test against South Africa with left-arm spin from both sides, instead of Jasprit Bumrah. The ploy backfired as the visitors were able to recover from their overnight score of 93-7 to add some valuable points to their tally and extend the lead, thanks to the heroics of Temba Bavuma.

The Indian team was in control at Stumps on day two after easily dismantling the majority of the South African batting unit. The Proteas only had a lead of 63 at that stage and needed a major recovery with only a handful of wickets in hand.

South Africa were able to make the most of the rolling wicket early in the day, with Bumrah not starting the day, to make 44 runs for the eighth wicket. Corbin Bosch played a good hand of 25 runs off 37 deliveries to help the skipper at the other end. Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja bowled six overs in tandem before the first bowling change, a phase in which South Africa added 16 runs to build some momentum and relieve the pressure.

While Indian team head coach Gautam Gambhir defended Rishabh Pant’s tactics, R Ashwin admitted that it was a mistake not to call on Bumrah immediately to start the first session.

“The skipper felt that having two left-arm spinners against him on this wicket could be helpful. It was the right decision. Most of the calls we took today, tactically I thought they were perfect,” Gambhir had said during the post-match presentation (via JioHotstar)

“The strategy at the start of Day 3 was wrong. Test match mornings should always start with your best bowlers. Bumrah and Jadeja should have started the day, then it should have been Kuldeep, and that’s how the spin should have happened. India made a massive mistake there, it was a tactical mistake, because of which the match slipped away from us,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Rishabh Pant led the team on the field after Shubman Gill was unavailable due to a neck injury he suffered on the second day. The ace batter felt discomfort after playing a sweep shot against Simon Harmer in the first innings, then left the field with the physios.

“Lighter batting in both innings is a huge factor” – R Ashwin on Shubman Gill’s absence as a batting for India in 1st IND vs SA Test 2025

The Indian team did not benefit from Shubman Gill’s batting services in both innings as he was retired injured after facing just three deliveries in the first innings, while he did not get out at all in the second innings. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had issued an official statement midway through the contest stating that the skipper would no longer play any role in the game.

“Relieving a batter in both innings is a huge factor, there is no doubt about that. But it is what it is. I don’t think we are eligible enough to pass judgment on that, because we don’t know what happened. Obviously, it must be a bit serious because he was in the hospital. So, I don’t want to dwell too much on that,” Ashwin added.

The Indian team is expected to rely on Shubman Gill’s availability for the upcoming second Test, which is scheduled to begin on Saturday, November 22 at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.