'India compromised bowling depth' - Deep Dasgupta criticises India's performance in BGT 2024-25

India’s defeat in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy ended their decade-long dominance over Australia. The 3-1 series loss, which ended in a six-wicket defeat at the Sydney Cricket Ground, exposed India's vulnerabilities in their approach and execution. Former Indian cricketer Deep Dasgupta opined on the side's underwhelming approach.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has historically been a fiercely contested series, with India winning consecutive victories in 2018-19 and 2020-21. However, the 2024-25 series had a different story. Despite a strong start with a win in Perth and a draw in Brisbane, India failed to make the most of the momentum.

The hosts dominated in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney to clinch back the prestigious title. Dasgupta’s main criticism was of India’s defensive mindset, which he believed was evident in their team selection. 

“When you select a team, it reflects your mindset. And I felt that from the first test match, the Indian team went with a defensive mindset, evident from the batting-heavy combination up to No. 8, including Washington Sundar as a specialist batsman despite the limited overs he bowled. This approach compromised bowling depth to bolster the batting lineup. That defensive mindset was the biggest reason for the team’s struggles. A positive mindset leads to clarity, and everything else aligns naturally," Dasgupta was quoted as saying exclusively on Star Sports.

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More proactive approach could result in better team combinations: Sanjay Bangar

While the Indian team failed to make an impact Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was playing his maiden Test series became the topic of discussion. Scoring 298 runs at an average of 37.25, including a century at the MCG, Reddy’s performances received praise from various quarters. India's former batting coach Sanjay Bangar revealed that Reddy's performance put the team in dilemma

“Nitish Reddy’s unexpected performance put the team in a dilemma. The combination of Nitish Reddy with Washington Sundar or Ravindra Jadeja created confusion. When there is an in-form player, it’s hard to drop him. The team management seemed to react as the series progressed rather than being proactive. On those pitches, decisions should have been made based on the immediate requirements. A more proactive approach could have resulted in better team combinations," Bangar said.