'If the mindset was positive then India would have batted first' - Ravi Shastri raises question marks on India's decision to field first in WTC final

Former India Head Coach, Ravi Shastri has criticised India for their approach in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) Final. Shastri even went on to question the Indian team skipper Rohit Sharma for not showing a positive mindset after winning the toss and electing to bat first rather than opting to bowl. In fact, the former India player was even disappointed by the Indian team’s decision of leaving out Ravichandran Ashwin for the marquee contest.

The veteran Indian player also pointed out that the mindset of India was very clear right from the word go that if they win the toss, then they will surely bowl and hence the team picked four seamers and one spinner for the summit clash.

On the contrary, if the team had a positive approach, then they would have surely batted and tried to play out the first session and then eventually scored runs later on as the batting conditions gradually improved in the following sessions.

"If the mindset was positive, you'd want to bat, rough it out in the first session and see if you can put 250 on board. Don't think too big 250-260 and if the conditions got better and you saw the first session through, you could have got more," Shastri told ICC after Stumps on Day 1.

Australia are in a commanding position and it’s up to Pat Cummins and Co to let India back into the contest: Shastri

The veteran India all-rounder also feels that the only way in which India can claw their way back into the game is by making the most of the second new ball and taking early wickets on Day 2 and if that is not the case then the game will slowly slip out of their hands.

“Australia will be another 200 runs by tea time tomorrow if not more. So think wickets try and make the second new ball count in the first 45 minutes of play. Australia can bat India out of the contest by even wanting to bat two and a half sessions tomorrow with the way they are going they could be 600 plus," Shastri concluded.