WTC Final 2023 | India didn’t show positive mindset by deciding to field: Ravi Shastri

London: Disappointed with India’s defensive approach, former head coach Ravi Shastri said captain Rohit Sharma did not show a positive mindset by winning the toss and deciding to field first in the World Test Championship (WTC Final 2023) final against Australia. India dropped veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin from the playing XI and decided to go with four fast bowlers. India won the toss and decided to field first as the pitch was grassy and cloudy. His decision did not prove to be correct. Australia scored 327 for three on the first day with the help of an unbroken 251-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Travis Head (146 not out) and Steve Smith (95 not out). Shastri told the ICC after the end of the first day’s play, “What happened on the first day is related to the mentality of winning the toss and fielding first.” That’s why you go in with four fast bowlers and one spinner.” He said, “If the mindset was positive, you would have decided to bat first. Take it easy in the first session and then see if you can reach 250 on the day. Don’t think of getting a very big score and if the conditions were better and the first session went well, you could have got a bigger score.” (agency)