Former India cricketers RP Singh and Aakash Chopra opened up about captain Rohit Sharma’s tactics during the first day of the ongoing fourth Test against England in Ranchi. RP Singh and Chopra felt that Rohit bowled less to left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav on the opening day. Kuldeep bowled only 10 overs on the first day and had to wait till the 42nd over to get his chance. Despite failing to take wickets, Kuldeep was India’s second most economical bowler behind Ravindra Jadeja at the JSCA Stadium.

While RP Singh and Chopra were not critical of Rohit for his tactics, they felt the Indian captain relied too much on experienced spinners Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.

“The bowlers put in a lot of effort. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and both the fast bowlers put in a lot of effort. Siraj bowled better in his second spell than his first spell. The only thing I doubt is that you did that.” ‘Don’t use Kuldeep Yadav as much as you should,’ RP Singh said on Jio Cinema.

“Jadeja and Ashwin were over bowled and because of this Kuldeep could not bowl as much and that also happens. When you have three spinners and all three are wicket-taking bowlers, one bowler under bowls many times. And the same happened.” Here with Kuldeep,” he said.

Chopra pointed out that Rohit had a lot of options in the bowling department, comparing the situation to going to a buffet.

“It’s true, when you have five bowlers you are spoiled for options. When you go to the buffet, you get confused at times. Kuldeep Yadav was 100% late,” Chopra said. It was done. He could have been made to bowl a little earlier.”

Meanwhile, debutant fast bowler Akash Deep was the bowler selected for India on the first day.

He took three wickets for 70 runs in the first session and ended the day with figures of 3/70.

The Bengal fast bowler gave Ben Duckett his first wicket before LBW to Pope two balls later.

Two overs later, he bowled Jack Crawley, who he said was “tough” to face the “skiddy bowler”.

England reached 302/7 at stumps with Joe Root (106) and Ollie Robinson (31) remaining unbeaten.