Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif questioned India’s bowling performance after a 2-1 series loss against England. India suffered a 27-run loss against the home team at Lord’s on Sunday after they failed to chase down a gargantuan target of 388.
Kaif highlighted that the focus has been deliberately put on Rohit Sharma, but it is the bowlers who are leading to the team’s downfall. Rohit scored a stunning knock of 138 runs off 110 balls with the help of 17 fours and five sixes to put doubts over his future to rest.
On the other hand, India conceded 62 runs in the last three overs, which proved to be the big turning point. All the Indian bowlers conceded their runs at an economy rate of more than six in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, and Gurnoor Brar was taken for 97 runs in his 10 overs.
“The real problem in the Indian team is the bowling. We have to aim for the eye of the fish, and instead we are aiming at Rohit Sharma’s form and all that nonsense. If we look at this tour, our bowling has been quite behind. So, we have to work a lot on our bowling. We are focused completely on the wrong thing, saying things about Rohit Sharma, this and that. But if we want to win the World Cup, do we have a bowling that can defend 250? When the batters fail, will the bowlers complement them?” Mohammad Kaif said on Cricbuzz.
“Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir, after this tour, should focus on the bowlers, the fielding, the injuries. All of these injuries are happening, who will take responsibility for that? So, apart from Rohit, there are so many major aspects which we should focus on and rectify them,” he added.
India conceded 58 runs in the first 10 overs of Powerplay and skipper Shubman Gill admitted they didn’t bowl well at both ends of the innings.
“We gave too many runs in the last three overs. Gave around 60 runs, I think. That’s where the game went a little bit too far ahead from usI think in this match particularly, we didn’t bowl well, especially in the powerplay. I think we bowled too many off deliveries in the powerplay,” Gill said during the post-match presentation.
India’s next ODI series is at home against the West Indies.
