Ravi Shastri slams Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill for their poor dismissals in ICC WTC final

Ravi Shastri came down hard on Indian batsmen Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara over their dismissals.

The ongoing final of the World Test Championship 2023 at the Oval saw the Australian team dominate on the first two days of the game. They have firmed their grip even more at the stumps on Day 2, after a brilliant display of batting on the opening days. After a brilliant performance from the batters, the Australian bowlers have pushed the Indians towards a position where they will have to avoid the follow-on in the first inning.

At the end of the second day, the Indian team is struggling at 151/5 in 38 overs, with all their top five batters back in the hut. The last recognized batting pair of Ajinkya Rahane and wicket-keeper KS Bharat is at the crease, and it will not be a surprise if Australia wrap up the Indian inning in the first session on Day 3. Rahane is unbeaten on 29, while Bharat is not out for 5 runs.

WTC Final 2023: Ravi Shastri slams Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill got poor shot selection in first inning

India didn't have any big partnerships in their inning. Rohit Sharma (15), Shubman Gill (13), Cheteshwar Pujara (14) and Virat Kohli (14) all got starts but none of them could capitalize that into a significant one. Adding to that, the way Gill and Pujara got out, leaving a straight delivery that crashed on to their stumps, gathered criticism from some of the former cricketers.

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri, who is doing the commentary in the ongoing game, was unhappy with the way Gill and Pujara got out. In a discussion after the end on Day 2, he said that Gill is young and will learn but Pujara will be very disappointed with his leave. Notably, Pujara was in England for county cricket for Sussex and was expected to read the conditions better than any Indian batter.

Shastri said, "We talk about leaving the ball in England and we always talk about knowing where your off stump is. See, Shubman Gill being a little lazy with his footwork. He will learn; he is still young, but Pujara will be very disappointed seeing that. It should have been a little further towards the ball and across the line of the ball. That's why they keep telling you - know where your off stump is." India are still behind by 318 runs, which looks like an impossible task from here on. Australia scored 469 runs in the first inning with the help of Travis Head (163) and Steve Smith (121).