Why didn't India declare early in the third test against Pakistan?

Question

Kumble was on a roll and India could have won the match or the draw could be on a better margin if India had declared early. What made Kumble take the decision late?

Answer 1

At that time they wanted to score more runs.

Answer 2

Kumble did not declare early because even a Draw would have got the series to them. The other thing which might have forced him not to declare early is the statement from the Pakistani coatch Mr.Lawson that Pakistan would be certainly going for the Chase. Hence Kumble did not want to have the Risk of losing the match at any cost.

But according to me Kumble should have instructed all the Indian Batsman to play fast so that he can declare before Lunch and give a unachivable target as well have a bright oppertunity to bowl out Pakis. I think Dravid should have played a little quicker.

Answer 3

There are already a large number of replies, so I would like to conclude rather than repeat some of the arguements.

1. It is a genuine mistake by a genious like kumble. India COULD have won but certainly NOT lost. In the interest of the game at large and spectators in general, he SHOULD have declared much earlier. Through out the series, pak has never performed well so as to doubt that early declaration can make us lose the match.

2. Late declaration has not helped india in any way, it has harmed only.

3. Such decision automatically give rise to suspicions like..he wants kartik to score 50. Team HAS to be more important than individual.

4. Kumble is at the end of his career and has become a captain quite late in career. he should avoid controversial decisions which harm his personal image. And by the time I am writing this, Kartik has been selected in aussie -going squard. so, the suspicion looks currect. Parthiv Patel was right claimant to the slot.

5. Early declaration could have kept match live till end, even if pak did not have dramatic collapse.

6. To conclude, it was not a safe decision, it was a BAD decision.

Answer 4

Hi,
Wise man, Kumble, became a victim of self disbelief as a bowler and bowling/ fielding potential of Indian team. A confident captain/ bowler loves to bowl on the last day's detoriated pitch of Banglore and pack Pakistani's struggling batting line up
( except Misbah all batsman shone in patches during whole tour).

Blind fans of Kumble may argue why he should take even slight risk of losing match and square series? To become a true leader one has to take some risk and make cricket a more attractive and exciting sport.

A lunch time declaration would be ideal, though match may still end up a draw but nobody would point a finger to wise Kumble.

Anyway this match is history now hope wise man has learnt a lesson for future.

Answer 5

He could not take risk.If India would have declared earlier then Pakistan could won the match.I think,Kumble made a right decision.Test Cricket is a game of Patience.So,Kumble has done right by not taking any risk.Everyone thought the match would be a draw but Pakistan's wicket fall quickly,then we thought India will win.So,Kumble is right.

Answer 6

Kumble did what a good test cricket captain would have done. He knew that we needed to amass the maximum margin runs. It is good that it started to get dark, or you would have been asking the question the other way round. Why DID Kumble declare early
instead of gathering more runs ?

Answer 7

Here are the few reasons:
1. We are already 1-0 up. A 2-0 series win might make the team (and ofcourse the whole India) a bit happier but it would be a tragedy if it goes down to 1-1 and the whole country would be cursing the team.
2. Our bowling attack is vastly dependent on spinners. With the pitch not providing much of assistance to the spinners and considering the way they bowled in the first innings a victory looked highly improbable.
3. The late declaration allowed Indians to go for an all out attack. If they had declared earlier they would have been a bit reluctant with the unpredictable Pakistanis

Answer 8

In my opinion , kumble should have declared the match earlier. He should have not waited for kartick's 50 runs. This 50 was not important than the winning the game.It was not a brave decision at all . Kumble has to take much more aggressive decision during Australia tour.

Answer 9

Kumble wants to make sure that Pakistan can't win the match at any cost.Remember Dravid did the same thing in the third test against England.Winning the series matters and its not the margin.

Answer 10

Well it needs daring to take such decision. I would have been the captain, I would have declared at drinks giving last over before drinks for kartik to complete his 100.

Kumble is not warrior, he is timid. we could have got a result in this match. Kumble would have been an Idol if india would have clunch this series by 2-0, tis would have not let Pakistan to say any thing about their lose.

Answer 11

The way Saurav and Karthik batted made kumble to believe that the pitch was not bad for batting and as such diod not want to put any pressure on the team by declaring early as india were already 1-0 up in the series.