Srinagar: Former India captain, Kapil Dev has said that missing easy chances against South Africa cost India game.
In the T20 World Cup match against South Africa India missed couple of easy run-out chances with captain Rohit Sharma failing to hit the stumps from a close range. Later Virat Kohli dropped one of the easiest catches to give Aiden Markram a lifeline. Markram and David Miller were in the middle of reviving the South African innings when India squandered their opportunities.
Former India captain Kapil Dev believes that average batting, along with poor fielding cost India dearly.
“I won’t say there was one turning point in the match. But when you had a good opportunity to set a decent total, India looked in a hurry. There was no need. After they lost 2 early wickets, they needed balance which they failed to achieve. Later, when they fielded, India even got starts, but if you miss simple run-out chances and drop easy catches, then the scope of winning becomes very less,” Kapil said on ABP News.
“Such mistakes cannot be afforded. You are playing at the international level. I understand that everyone drops matches but when you are playing a match as important as this and a catch as easy as the one that came towards Kohli, somewhere the morale of the team takes a hit and shoulders drop. I won’t say that they had the entire 100 percent view of the stumps, but you did have 75 percent visibility inside six yards. Those were two very important moments that could have changed the match,” he added.
India face Bangladesh on Wednesday and a win would certainly solidify India’s semifinal chances, let alone assure it even before the Zimbabwe tie on Sunday.
“When you lose, you see things clearly. The batting didn’t live up to its promise and the reality is right in front of you. Sure, we will still reach the semifinals, there won’t be much of a problem in that. But if you keep making such mistakes, you won’t be a contender to win the World Cup. Against South Africa, India made many mistakes. India’s strength is batting while chasing but they decided to bat. If you miss run out chances and catches, you cannot win in T20Is and more so when the target is low. The attitude and passion should be visible” former India captain said.
