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Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has voiced serious concerns over the Indian cricket team’s recent defeat to Sri Lanka, attributing it to a dangerous sense of complacency. The team’s performance in the third One Day International (ODI) of the series was disappointing, prompting Chopra to share his views on YouTube.
Aakash Chopra critiques the Indian cricket bowling attack
Chopra highlighted that while the Indian team had the opposition on the ropes in the first two ODIs, they allowed them to escape and post totals exceeding the 200-run mark. He pointed out that a lack of urgency in closing out the innings hurt the Indian team significantly.
The cricketer-turned-commentator said that India’s bowling lacked ruthlessness. The bowlers were complacent about assuming they’d secure wickets or chase runs.
“We were not able to close out the innings with the ball. There seemed a sense of complacency that we would get the wickets anyway, and if we did not get the wickets, we would chase the runs anyway. The ruthlessness was missing,” Chopra remarked.
The Delhi lad further elaborated on the team’s vulnerabilities. India excels on flat pitches but struggles on turning ones, with batting faltering and bowling quality gaps emerging
“I think we outbattle the opposition and play spin well on flat wickets. Our bowlers also bowl better than theirs on such pitches. However, when the pitches begin to turn, our batting becomes ordinary, and the gap in the quality of bowling is reduced. So, this is a problem they need to address,” Chopra commented.
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India’s forthcoming series against Bangladesh
The series defeat is a significant setback for India. It marks Sri Lanka’s first bilateral series win over India in 27 years, the last triumph dating back to 1997. This victory is a major milestone for Sri Lankan cricket, showcasing their progress and resilience on the international stage.
India will now gear up for their next challenge against Bangladesh. The Bangladesh tour of India 2024 will feature a two-match Test series starting on September 19th, followed by a three game T20I series commencing on October 6th. This upcoming series will be crucial for India to regain its momentum and address the issues highlighted by experts like Chopra.
