India’s decision to shuffle the batting order in the absence of Shubman Gill during the first Test against New Zealand drew heavy criticism after both Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan were dismissed for ducks. Kohli was promoted to the No. 3 spot, a position where he thrives in ODIs, while Sarfaraz batted at No. 4. However, their failures in the first innings led many to question the tactics employed by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma.
Among the critics was former wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, who raised concerns about the decisions made by the team management. Karthik, speaking on Cricbuzz, did not shield Kohli from criticism but also suggested that the management could have handled the situation better.
He believed that promoting either KL Rahul or Sarfaraz Khan to No. 3 might have been a more strategic move. Karthik acknowledged Kohli’s exceptional ability and temperament, but he questioned whether pushing him up the order in Test cricket was the best decision, particularly in such challenging conditions.
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“I’m not here to defend Virat Kohli. He has proven himself as one of the greatest batters in the world. But promoting him to No. 3 in Test cricket, where the ball moves a lot more, was a questionable call. Kohli excels at No. 4, and that’s where he should have batted,” Dinesh Karthik remarked.
Karthik also praised Kohli for his willingness to step up and take on the challenge at No. 3, despite the potential risk. Kohli could have easily insisted on staying at his regular position, but his decision to bat higher showed his team-first mentality. Nevertheless, Karthik believed that Gambhir should shoulder much of the blame for India’s dismal performance on the day.
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“It’s commendable that Virat didn’t shy away from the challenge, but I think the decision to send him at No. 3 wasn’t the right one. KL Rahul or Sarfaraz Khan could have taken that spot. Gambhir’s idea of maintaining a consistent order might work in the long term, but in this instance, it backfired,” Dinesh Karthik added, pointing out that adaptability, not rigidity, should be the team’s focus moving forward.
