Steve Waugh bashes Rohit Sharma for not picking R Ashwin in playing in WTC Final against Australia

Team India endured a disappointing outing with the bat in the ongoing World Test Championship Final against Australia at the Oval, England. Replying to Australia’s 469 runs in the first innings, the Indian batters kept losing wickets at regular intervals in the second innings of the Test match. Main Indian batters like the skipper Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli were dismissed cheaply as the score was reduced to 71 for 4.

However, the 71-run partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja put India back into the game. Jadeja got out after scoring 48 runs off 51 balls hitting seven fours and a maximum. After Jadeja’s dismissal, Rahane took charge of the innings along with Shardul Thakur as both batters put up an unbeaten partnership of 108 runs for the seventh wicket as India are currently on 260 for 6 after the end of the first session of Day 3.

Looking at the performance of the Indian batters, former Australian skipper Steve Waugh bashed Rohit and the head Coach Rahul Dravid for not selecting Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI. Waugh said that Ashwin has scored five centuries in the longest format and the off-spinner could have provided more strength to the Indian batting lineup.

‘I do think (India) have picked the wrong side’ – Waugh

“I would have picked Ashwin for his batting, let alone his bowling. That is why I can’t believe he isn’t playing because he has got five Test centuries as well. It is very strange. It looks green on top but underneath it is crumbly and a bit dry. You can get lulled into the overcast sky and green pitch and think it is going to do everything,” Waugh told AAP.

“As soon as the sun comes out it is totally different and dries out quickly. I do think (India) have picked the wrong side. Spin will play a big part in this Test match and it is going to be up and down,” he further added.

India are currently 209 runs behind Australia’s first-innings total before heading into the second session of Day 3. Rahane has been the top scorer for India so far in his comeback match as he is unbeaten on 89 runs off 122 balls with 11 fours and a maximum. While Shardul Thakur is batting on 36 runs off 83 balls hitting three boundaries.