"All that has been pre-decided" - Aakash Chopra on India's tactics on Day 3 of IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Former India player Aakash Chopra has opined that the Indian team came into Day 3 of the first Test against South Africa with pre-decided plans. He noted that Rishabh Pant and the team management would have together decided not to bowl Jasprit Bumrah from one end at the start of the day.

India suffered a 30-run loss in the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata on Sunday, November 16. The hosts allowed the visitors to post 153 runs in their second innings before being bowled out for 93 while chasing a 124-run target.

During an interaction on the Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues,' Chopra was asked about his thoughts on Bumrah not starting the day's proceedings alongside Ravindra Jadeja.

"Of course, we have the benefit of hindsight. Whatever happens in the morning or at the start of a new session, it is never the thought process of the on-field captain alone. He is a part of the leadership group that decides who they would bowl and what strategy they would go with. All that has been pre-decided," he responded.

While acknowledging that most experts believed that Bumrah should have been introduced into the attack straightaway, the cricketer-turned-commentator noted that the Indian think tank thought otherwise.

"It was everyone's collective decision that this is what they wanted to do. The result shows that Bumrah should have been brought earlier. We also thought Bumrah should have been brought earlier, but the Indian team thought differently," Chopra observed.

However, Aakash Chopra highlighted that he wouldn't criticize the Indian think tank too much, pointing out that they had six bowling options. He added that one could even question why Washington Sundar was given only a solitary over in the game, while Simon Harmer, the South African off-spinner, picked up eight wickets in the match.

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"Slightly defensive" - Aakash Chopra on India's field settings on Day 3 of IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

India allowed the South African batters to take easy singles on Day 3 of the Kolkata Test. [P/C: Getty]

In the same interaction, Aakash Chopra was asked about India's field settings at the start of the day.

"Slightly defensive. They could have brought them slightly up. There was no need to give singles so easily. When South Africa didn't take the roller, India felt seven batters had already gotten out, wickets would fall quickly as the pitch had become very bad, so why should fours be conceded?" he replied.

The former India opener noted that modern-day captaincy has changed, highlighting that captains believe the batters would get out if they are denied boundaries.

"This is the modern-day captaincy. We repeatedly ask why fielders are in the deep, but captains, teams, and grounds have changed in the last five-six years, and I am willing to concede that modern-day captaincy will probably be like this only because modern-day captains believe that if you stop someone's fours, the batters get desperate and get out," Chopra observed.

India's defensive tactics allowed South Africa to reach 153 after they had started the day at 93/7. Temba Bavuma (55*) and Corbin Bosch (25) stitched together a 44-run eighth-wicket partnership, which eventually proved to be the difference.