Following their ODI loss to seventh-ranked Bangladesh, Team India’s performance is being criticised more and more harshly with each passing day. India is suffering greatly as a result of their inability to gel as a team and numerous injury worries. The problems that have persisted since the Asia Cup are still present, and as a result, a squad that had one of its best years in 2021 is having an as bad year in 2022. The Indian squad was expected to focus on the 50-over World Cup after being knocked from the T20 World Cup in the semifinals, but after losing successive ODI series to New Zealand and Bangladesh, the team needs a wake-up call before it becomes too late.
Following a disappointing series defeat in Bangladesh, India’s World Cup-winning all-rounder Madan Lal has taken a harsh stance on the team’s top hitters and accused them of not performing to their full capacity. Despite having Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Shikhar Dhawan in the playing XI, India lost both games. However, other from Rahul’s 50 in the first ODI, there hasn’t been much to speak of. With a dislocated thumb, Rohit made a valiant effort, but Lal has raised concerns about his and others’ general performance over the past few years.
“If you see the record, how many centuries they (seniors) have scored in the last three years? And how many in the last one year? With age-factor, your hand-eye coordination slows down. But they are experienced players and they should have performed. If your top order does not perform you are not going to win,” he told PTI.
In the past three years, Kohli has only scored one century, which came against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup earlier this year. India’s skipper Rohit has fared marginally better, with three centuries. Rahul also has two, but they both came in tests. The Indian top three, which once gave the opposition something to dread, has been on the decline, which has truly hurt the squad in recent years. Lal is not pleased with just the batting, though. He correctly draws attention to the steep fall in India’s bowling, which is also suffering without Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami despite the abundance of options.
“Your bowling unit has become very weak suddenly. It looks like they are not going to get any wickets. After 69 for 6, Bangladesh managed to score 271. So what is all this going on? Every country is playing like that. Must have specialised cricketers for different formats. Why not have different players for different formats? All countries are doing it and India should also do the same,” he pointed out.