After India's 28-run loss to England in the Test series opener, former captain Michael Vaughan criticized Rohit Sharma's captaincy, describing it as "very, very average." Vaughan expressed dissatisfaction with Rohit's reactive approach, particularly in countering Ollie Pope's remarkable innings of 196.
England, trailing by 190 runs, set India a target of 231 after scoring 420 in their second innings. Pope played a crucial role, forming crucial partnerships and utilizing the sweep effectively. Despite being in a challenging situation, Rohit's captaincy appeared passive, lacking proactive measures to stem the run flow and make strategic field changes.
Vaughan highlighted the challenge teams face when encountering England's tactics for the first time in a series, emphasizing the need for thorough preparation. He criticized Rohit for not maneuvering the field effectively, being reactive rather than proactive, and struggling to counter Pope's sweeps.
In contrast, Vaughan praised England's captain-coach duo, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, for their unconventional selections and positive mindset. He acknowledged the success of debutant left-arm spinner Tom Hartley, who took 7-62 in England's victory.
Despite India going 1-0 down in the series, Vaughan expects a fightback in the second Test in Visakhapatnam. He expressed the belief that India, with their talent and resources, often underachieve but remains optimistic about their potential resurgence in the series. Vaughan also questioned the pitch preparation strategy, suggesting that flatter wickets might be more favorable for India.
(With Agency Inputs)
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