WTC Final 2023: Fans Slam Rohit Sharma as Australia Dominate Day 1, Recall Virat Kohli’s Captaincy

The duo stitched an unbeaten 251-run stand off 370 deliveries as Australia finished the opening day at 327/3 in 85 overs. While Travis Head slammed a 106-ball hundred and remained unbeaten at 146 off 156 at the end of the day, Steve Smith was just five runs short of his 31st Test ton.

Amid overcast conditions, India opted to bowl first and entered the match with four pacers and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja. Ravichandran Ashwin, the number one ranked Test bowler in the world was left out of the eleven. However, the decision backfired.

Umesh Yadav bowled 14 overs for 54 runs without taking any wicket, while Shardul Thakur picked one wicket but leaked 75 runs in 18 overs. Jadeja also went wicketless after bowling four overs for 48 runs.

Rohit and the Indian team management was questioned for not opting to go with Ashwin or left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat first. Later the 36-year-old was criticised for his non-attacking captaincy which helped Australia make rapid strides towards the title win.

Here’s how fans have reacted after the end of Day 1 play of the WTC final 2023.

Captaincy aisi karo ki sab dekhne wale bore ho jaayein pic.twitter.com/iFxk6FgwvS

— (@murdockwa) June 7, 2023

Indian fans to Rohit:#captaincy pic.twitter.com/aTt0bVQwMf

— Manoj (@man0jg) June 7, 2023

Doing test captaincy in overseas conditions is not everyone’s cup of tea. #AUSvsIND #WTCFinal2023 #INDvsAUS missing kohli captaincy ???? pic.twitter.com/7swqybaIog

— Shamsi (MSH) (@ShamsiHaidri) June 7, 2023

Former Australia coach Justin Langer says Virat Kohli was an amazing captain, he loved his aggression.

BCCI did injustice to him, and I do not want to hear anything else. If he wanted to keep the ODI captaincy, he should have been allowed to do that out of respect. #WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/9raLRIvxHx

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) June 7, 2023

This guy did better captaincy with Washington Sundar, Natrajan,Thakur ! against same Aus ! pic.twitter.com/VWwah91oJn

— Dr Rajkumar (@I_Raj13) June 7, 2023

Overseas test cricket under Virat Kohli’s captaincy was something else. Kohli deserves test captaincy till his retirement. #WTCFinal2023

— Mukesh Ambani (Parody) (@AmbaniHu) June 7, 2023

Kohli should have never stepped down as a test captain. That’s the biggest blunder he made. White balls was fine but he was literally the best we could ever have in red ball. Fit, passionate, available, aggressive and gave results.

— Archer (@poserarcher) June 7, 2023

You Only miss the sun when it starts to snow.

Captain Kohli #INDvsAUS #WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/eHSbVA24Fn

— Lokesh Saini ???? (@LokeshViraat18K) June 7, 2023