"Absolutely Mindless": Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir's Strategy Blasted By Ex India Star

India head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma face heat despite the team's 2-0 series lead against England in the ongoing ODI series.

Team India completed a successful run-chase of 305 runs against England in the second ODI at Cuttack on Sunday, with skipper Rohit Sharma leading the charge with the bat. Though it turned out to be another comfortable victory for India, some of the Gautam Gambhir-led team management's decisions continue to baffle experts. Former India cricketer Dodda Ganesh didn't mince words on social media as he asked some critical questions. Axar Patel again ahead of KL Rahul? I'm speechless. Does it make any sense to push a genuine batter like Rahul to no 6? When you're 5/3, do you've the courage to send Axar on a tricky pitch? If not, what sense does this experiment make?Absolutely mindless this #INDvENG

Strangely, all-rounder Axar Patel was sent ahead of wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul, not for the first time in this series. Rahul, who is a top-order batter by trait, has often seen his batting position being shuffled on the basis of the team's needs. He isn't a traditional wicketkeeper as well, but has been deployed in that position to help the team strike a better balance.

While not many objected to picking Rahul as India's wicket-keeper over Rishabh Pant, who continues to warm the bench, former Ganesh did object to Rahul's batting position. The keeper-batter came out to play at the No. 6 spot in the order, behind Axar, who is considered to be a 'bowling all-rounder'.

"Axar Patel again ahead of KL Rahul? I'm speechless. Does it make any sense to push a genuine batter like Rahul to no 6? When you're 5/3, do you've the courage to send Axar on a tricky pitch? If not, what sense does this experiment make? Absolutely mindless this," Ganesh wrote on X (formerly Twitter).