Srinagar: Former India Cricketer Mohammad Kaif has questioned Team India tactics after they suffered a shock one wicket defeat against hosts Bangladesh in first ODI in Dhaka on Sunday.
Earlier Team India scored 186 all out in 41.2 overs.
In response, the Indian bowlers kept things tight and reduced Bangladesh to 136/9 in the 39.3 overs, however, they failed to pick the final wicket as hosts completed the run chase in 46 overs.
Shortly after the outcome, many blamed India’s poor fielding behind the loss. KL Rahul and Washington Sundar had the opportunity to wrap the contest in India’s favour, but the two failed to do so.
“It was India’s game, they had taken nine wickets. The bowling was excellent, they got India back into the game after the batters had a bad day. The bowling covered up for that until the 40th over, but the last 10 overs, who is our death bowler? Is it Deepak Chahar or Kuldeep Sen?”,” Mohammad Kaif said during a discussion on Sony Sports.
“We dropped catches. KL Rahul doesn’t keep that often. He is a good fielder, he ran out Litton Das with a direct hit from the deep in the T20 World Cup. Sundar didn’t dive to try and take the catch,” he added.
“The fielders were seen under pressure. We made mistakes under pressure. We bowled wide balls and no-balls. You have to overcome pressure if you have to win the World Cup. That is how a team emerges, whether you talk about New Zealand or England, who are at the top in white-ball cricket,” he said.
“I am disappointed that we are crumbling under pressure. You can talk about captaincy or bowling changes. The game went well until the 40th over, but then came Mehidy Hasan Miraz and showed the Bangladesh batters how to play. But I feel the young bowlers couldn’t finish the game in the last 10 overs.”