“The strategy at the start of Day 3 was wrong” - India’s World Cup winner slams Rishabh Pant’s captaincy in IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin questioned stand-in captain Rishabh Pant's decision to begin Day 3 of the first Test against South Africa with left-arm spin from both ends, instead of Jasprit Bumrah. The ploy backfired as the visitors were able to recover from their overnight score of 93-7 to add some precious runs to their total and stretch the lead, courtesy of Temba Bavuma's heroics.

Team India were in the driver's seat at Stumps on Day 2 after dismantling the majority of South Africa's batting unit with ease. 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 rolled wicket at the start of the day, and Bumrah not beginning the day, to put up 44 runs for the eighth wicket. Corbin Bosch played a decent hand of 25 runs off 37 deliveries to assist the skipper at the other end. Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja bowled six overs in tandem before the first bowling change, a phase were South Africa added 16 runs to create some momentum and relieve pressure.

While Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir defended Rishabh Pant's tactics, R Ashwin admitted that it was a blunder not to bring on Bumrah straightaway to start the first session.

"The skipper felt having two left-arm spinners against them on this wicket could be useful. It was the right call. Most of the calls we took today, tactically, I thought were spot on," 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 is how the rotation should have happened. India made a massive error there, it was a tactical error, because of which the match slipped away from our hands," 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 sustained on Day 2. The ace batter experienced discomfort after playing a sweep shot off Simon Harmer in the first innings, and subsequently left the field with the physios.

"One batter lighter in both innings is a huge factor" - R Ashwin on Shubman Gill's absence as a batter for India in IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Team India did not have Shubman Gill's batting services across both innings as he was retired hurt after facing only three deliveries in the first innings, while he did not step out in the second innings at all. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had released an official statement midway through the contest stating that the skipper will play no further part in the game.

"Going one batter lighter in both innings is a huge factor, no doubt about it. But, it is what it is. I don't think we are eligible enough to pass judgement on that, because we don't know what happened. Obviously, it must be a little serious because he was in the hospital. So, I don't want to dwell too much into it," Ashwin added.

Team India are expected to make a call on Shubman Gill's availability for the upcoming second Test, set to begin on Saturday, November 22, at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.

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Edited by Gokul Nair