Gautam Gambhir Criticized for Strategic Mistake as India Lost to England in 3rd T20I

India's batting failed miserably against the sharp bowling attack of England as they lost the third T20I by 26 runs on Tuesday in Rajkot. The match was a must-win for England, who were trailing 0-2 in the five-match series. This victory did not only keep the hopes of England alive but also gave them the momentum they so desperately needed. Despite a commendable return to international cricket by Mohammed Shami, who had been absent for 14 months, it was Varun Chakravarthy's impressive performance that stood out. Chakravarthy’s brilliant five-wicket haul helped India restrict England to 171 for 9, which was a manageable total. However, India’s chase was derailed as they could only manage 145 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs.

Hardik Pandya's 40-run contribution was important, but not enough to seal the win for India as other top-order batters failed to deliver. The defeat has led to a lot of debate, especially about the tactical decisions taken by India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, which many feel contributed to their downfall.

Experts Criticize Gautam Gambhir's Tactical Error

The outcome of the match has attracted much criticism, a stuff that former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali opined on. He said Gautam Gambhir committed a great tactical gaff by deciding to bowl first after winning the toss. According to Basit, the decision was bad as it allowed England to score freely in the early overs because conditions did not support the dew factor. He pointed out that there was no dew at the ground, and in such conditions, it would have been more advantageous for India to bat first.

Basit, speaking on his YouTube channel, explained that India's batting in the first innings had the advantage of the ball coming onto the bat more smoothly, which is typical of early conditions. He further added in hindsight that the team should not have let Gambhir take advantage of bating first to start with this particular series that India had led already by one game and two games having been played back-to-back winning.

"England were 52 for 1 after the powerplay, whereas India were tottering at 51 for 3," observed Basit pointing out the divergence in the way the two teams handled the powerplay. He further adds that it felt like a surface that could witness 200 but the lack of dew did not support the proposition of chasing that target later into the evening. Instead, the ball started gripping and spinning more in the second innings, which made it tough for the Indian batsmen to play their strokes.

India's failure to chase down the target and England's stranglehold on the match

England's batting was stable, especially after they survived the early loss of their opener. Even though India's bowlers did everything possible to strangle the opposition, including Shami getting back into form and Chakravarthy bowling out of his skin, England's total of 171 was still one that was tough to chase down. India's top-order could not cope up and even though Hardik Pandya fought valiantly with a 40-run knock, lack of partnerships and failure of the key batters left them well short of the target.

India’s batting woes have been a cause for concern throughout the series, with inconsistent performances from their top-order. The decision to bowl first in a crucial match, despite not having the dew factor on their side, only compounded the problem. In contrast, England capitalized on their opportunities and adapted to the conditions, setting a challenging total for India to chase.

Looking Ahead to the Fourth T20I

The setback notwithstanding, India is still ahead in the series, leading 2-1. The fourth game is scheduled to be played in Pune on January 31, and India will have to regroup quickly and focus on rectifying their tactical mistakes. With the series still in their grasp, the Indian team will be hoping for a more calculated approach in the upcoming matches.

While Gautam Gambhir's decision has been highly criticized, the Indian team also needs to introspect on their overall performance. They must rethink over their batting approach. This is clearly a missed opportunity for the Indian team to seal the series at Rajkot but given the strong side, they will be looking to take the next step at Pune to conquer this high-stakes series.