Ravi Shastri baffled by Gautam Gambhir's selection plan after India's collapse in Guwahati; ‘can’t figure out reasoning’

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri didn't mince words while tearing into Gautam Gambhir's team selection after India suffered a major batting collapse in the ongoing second Test in Guwahati against South Africa. After the Proteas rode on Senuram Muthusamy's 100 and Marco Jansen's 91 to post 489, Jansen returned to take four wickets as the hosts were bundled out for just 201 on Day 3.

With Shubman Gill missing due to a neck injury, India reshuffled the batting order from the first Test, a move Shastri said baffled him. India have experimented with several players for the No 3 since Cheteshwar Pujara last played a Test match for India in 2023.

Eyebrows were raised when Washington Sundar was promoted to that position in the first Test in Kolkata, but to everyone's surprise, Sundar was demoted to No 8 in Guwahati with Sai Sudharsan taking that No 3 slot.

The reshuffle did little to help as India huffed and puffed to reach the 200-run mark. 

“Absolutely not. It makes no sense. I can’t figure out the reasoning. When they review this series, some of these selections will leave them puzzled,” Shastri, who is on commentary duties, said.

Shastri also pointed to India's selection plan in the first Test in Kolkata, when the Gautam Gambhir-led management picked four spinners: Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja. Interestingly, Sundar bowled just one over in the entire match.

"In Kolkata, you picked four spinners and one of them bowled only a single over, when you could’ve easily picked a specialist batter. And here, after making Washington bat at three in the last Test, you could’ve slotted him at four today since you already had your number three. He’s not a number eight. He’s much better than that,” Shastri remarked.

India vs South Africa 2nd Test updates so far

At a time when none of the top-order batters could make a mark, barring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sundar and Kuldeep put up a fight with a 72-run stand for the seventh wicket. Sundar missed his half-century by two runs, while Kuldeep battled through 134 deliveries for his 19 runs.

For the Proteas, Jansen returned with 6/48 while Simon Harmer took three wickets. With 288-run first inning lead, South Africa are 26 without loss at stumps on third day. The visitors lead by 314 runs with two more days left.