Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has shared that India’s poor death-bowling was the reason why they failed to do well under pressure in the first ODI against Bangladesh in Mirpur on Sunday, December 4 as well. They were bundled out for a below-par 186 after being put in to bat first.
However, their bowlers did well by restricting the hosts to 136/9 before an unbeaten 51-run partnership between Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mustafizur Rahman for the last wicket sealed the deal. While reviewing the match on Sony Sports, Mohammad Kaif said:
“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? 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.”
It is also noteworthy that, KL Rahul dropped Miraz when Bangladesh were still 32 runs short and the last pair were in the middle as well. Moreover, Washington Sundar also did not go for a catch in the very next ball. However, he said that the Indian team need to learn how to handle pressure well too.
“You have to overcome pressure if you have to win the World Cup” – Mohammad Kaif
“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 shared.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Kaif also applauded Miraz for keeping his cool and taking his team home but also added that the Indian bowlers and a few captaincy errors cost India the game as well.
“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,” Mohammad Kaif signed off.
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