“That creates a little bit of questions” - 2011 World Cup winner slams India’s bowling strategy in AUS vs IND 2025 3rd T20I

India’s 2011 ODI World Cup-winning pacer Zaheer Khan has criticised the Men in Blue’s bowling tactics in the ongoing third T20I against Australia. The match is being played on Sunday, November 2, at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

After winning the toss, India opted to field, bringing in Arshdeep Singh, Jitesh Sharma, and Washington Sundar in place of Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson, and Kuldeep Yadav.

Australia suffered early setbacks as Travis Head (6), Mitchell Marsh (11), and Josh Inglis (1) fell cheaply. However, Tim David and Marcus Stoinis revived the innings with explosive knocks.

David smashed 74 off 38 balls, including eight fours and five sixes, while Stoinis contributed 64 off 39 balls, hitting eight fours and two sixes, powering Australia to 186/6 in 20 overs. For India, Arshdeep Singh impressed with figures of 3/35 from his four overs.

Speaking on Cricbuzz during the mid-innings show, Zaheer Khan criticised India’s bowling approach, noting that the team appeared tactically behind. The 47-year-old also questioned the decision not to bowl Washington Sundar, who was brought into the XI for this game.

“I think the plan from the Aussie batters looked like to really take advantage of spin bowling and to be positive and put them under pressure. And that is something which was a little concern we were talking about. You know, Washington Sundar coming back into the playing XI but not having bowled at all makes you wonder that maybe you need to be very clear in terms of if you’re replacing a bowler and not giving him the ball. So that is something which creates a little bit of questions.”

“You have six bowling options. But you used Abhishek Sharma as well and Shivam Dube as well. So you on paper still used six bowling options. But the main bowling option which you made the tactical change today, conditions didn't allow you to have that confidence in Washington Sundar to be used when Tim David and Stoinis, both destructive, both power hitters, were batting there. You as a captain were behind and also you've used Bumrah three overs up top. So you have one over of Bumrah, two overs of Arshdeep,” he added.

Apart from Arshdeep, Varun Chakaravarthy claimed two wickets, while Shivam Dube picked up one for India.

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“Having three spinners is anyways ahead of the conditions” - Zaheer Khan blasts India’s tactics in 3rd T20I against Australia

During the same discussion, Zaheer Khan stated that including Washington Sundar in the XI and going in with three spinners was a move ahead of the conditions. He said:

“You pick the team, you have your options based on the conditions which are on offer. So having three spinners is anyways ahead of the conditions. You have five including Abhishek Sharma if you count him as a spinner, which is not going to give you any variety to make the play. When the partnership was happening after the power play or if one of your spinners is being put under pressure, you know that finger spinners are not going to have that kind of impact on this pitch. The conditions are not favouring that. So you have the option in Shivam Dube to go to as a seam-up option. When he's been put down for runs, you're still continuing with that because you don't have any other option.”

“So if you're making that change in bowling, then Harshit, who has already contributed with the bat, since your batting was the emphasis, maybe was the right call. Three seam options, three genuine seam options, is the demand in these conditions. So even if you're planning for the T20 World Cup, even if you're thinking that you used three overs up front, all those kinds of things, you still have to tactically take advantage of the conditions and the situation and have that flexibility,” he added.

Chasing 187, at the time of writing, India were 71/2 after seven overs, with Suryakumar Yadav (24) and Tilak Varma (4) at the crease.