India vs Australia: Gautam Gambhir blasts Virat Kohli, says can’t understand his captaincy

India vs Australia: The pressure is building! Till few weeks back, no one had any doubts about Virat Kohli’s captaincy abilities. An average IPL and two losses against Australia have put the Delhi batsman under some serious pressure. Gautam Gambhir, who has been critical of Kohli’s leadership abilities in the past, has once again hit out at the RCB skipper. Gambhir maintained he could not understand Kohli’s decision to give Jasprit Bumrah only two overs with the new ball. 

“I can’t understand the captaincy to be honest. We kept talking about how important it is to take wickets upfront if we have to stop this kind of batting line-up and then you make your premier bowler bowl two overs. Normally, in a One Day game probably there are three spells of 4-3-3 overs. Or probably the maximum is four overs,” Gambhir said on ESPNCricinfo’s post-match show. 

Gambhir added that maybe he is not able to understand the reason behind that, but it was a poor decision.  

“But if you stop your premier fast bowler just by bowling two overs upfront with the news, I can’t understand that kind of captaincy. I probably can’t even explain that captaincy. It is not T20 cricket. I probably can’t understand the reason to be honest because that was poor captaincy,” he added.  

Gambhir also talked about how India could have tried players like Washington Sundar or Shivam Dube if they were facing an issue with the sixth bowler. 

“They could have given someone like Washington Sundar or Shivam Dube or whoever was there in the squad to play the next game and see how they go into the one-day format. But if you don’t have anyone in Australia then it is a selection error as well.” 

“Unless and until you don’t judge someone you will never be able to find how good he is at the international level. India has not taken those options to Australia and those might come back to hurt them big time,” Gambhir said. 

India and Australia will play the 3rd and final ODI of the series on Wednesday.