Team India‘s disappointing defeat in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia in London has sparked widespread criticism and scrutiny. The Aussies displayed dominance in all three departments, securing a commanding 209-run victory to claim the coveted Test Mace. This defeat marks India’s second loss in the WTC Final, following their previous defeat against New Zealand in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2021.
Since India’s defeat, fans and experts from all corners have voiced their disappointment and criticism towards the Rohit Sharma-led team. The latest critic to join the chorus is former West Indies cricketer Andy Roberts. Known for his leadership of the West Indies pace attack during the 1970s and 1980s, Roberts expressed his belief that the current Indian team exhibited arrogance by underestimating their opponents.
Roberts urged India to evaluate their focus and decide whether their priorities lie in Test cricket or the limited-overs formats. He expected the Indian team to showcase better performances and demonstrate high-quality cricket, which, in his opinion, they failed to do.
“There is this arrogance which has crept into Indian cricket and through this, India have underestimated the rest of the world. India must decide what their focus is—Test cricket or limited overs cricket. T20 cricket will run its course. There is no contest between bat and ball there,” said Roberts as quoted by MidDay.
“I expected India to show their batting strength. I saw no bright spot in the final although Ajinkya Rahane fought hard; got hit on his hand. Shubman Gill looks good when he plays those shots, but he stands on leg stump and is often dismissed bowled or caught behind. He has good hands, but he must get behind the ball. Virat Kohli, though, got a brute of a delivery from Mitchell Starc in the first innings. India have some very good players mind you, but they have not performed creditably away from home,” he added.
The Antiguan cricketer also shared his thoughts on India’s decision to omit Ravichandran Ashwin from the playing XI for the summit clash. Roberts criticized this move, deeming it ridiculous. Ashwin, known for his versatility and experience, has been a valuable asset to the Indian team in various formats of the game.
“Dropping Ashwin was ridiculous. How can you not pick your best spinner? Unbelievable,” Roberts added further.
