Gautam Gambhir criticises Virat Kohli for favouring Ishant Sharma over Mohammed Siraj

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has criticised Indian captain Virat Kohli and team manment's decision to play Ishant Sharma over an in-form Mohammed Siraj in India vs England 1st Test. Siraj, who led Indian pace attack with flamboyance in historic Brisbane Test, was overlooked as India decided to include Ishant in playing XI who is coming after a long injury layoff.

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Gautam Gambhir unhappy with inclusion of Ishant Sharma over Mohammed Siraj

decision to play Ishant ahe of Siraj hasn't gone down well with Gambhir. During a video discussion on ESPNCricinfo, Gambhir was asked if he would have gone with Siraj inste of an experienced Ishant. Gambhir replied in affirmative, reasoning that Ishant hasn’t played red-ball cricket for a very long time. He ded that Ishant played in IPL where he got injured and n he has played only T20 cricket.

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Gambhir furr said that it's t like you have got third seamer in your ranks and you can actually just go on to bowl 12-13 overs a day. southpaw reckoned that you might have to bowl more than 15-16 overs. He reiterated that it’s always easy to bowl in T20 cricket but t in red-ball cricket where you got to make things happen. Gambhir stated that if he was captain, he would have Ishant bowl a couple of lengthy spells at nets and regain his bowling fitness and give Siraj a go-ahe.

former cricketer said that India might need to play three seamers with pink ball at Motera. Gambhir ded that he would have definitely built Ishant for Motera or probably for second Test match and gone with Siraj because latter is coming on back of a fabulous tour of Australia where he has bowled such long spells.

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India vs England live score update

After deciding to bat first, England me a stey start to ir innings. Openers Rory Burns and Dominic Sibley successfully mand to tackle Indian bowlers. However, just at stroke of Lunch on Day of India vs England 1st Test, a bizarre shot from Burns led to his downfall for 33. Daniel Lawrence who came to bat at .3  was sent back immediately by Bumrah for a duck as Indian picked up his first Test wicket at home.

At time of publishing this article, England's scoreboard re 205/2 after 74 overs. Sibley is batting on 67 while Root is unbeaten on 94. visitors would hope that pair carries on in same fashion and propel side to a massive total. On or hand, hosts will look to break dangerous partnership as England are in driver's seat at moment.

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SOURCE: PTI