The former Indian player Saba Karim shared that India’s white-ball cricket needs change after they lost in the first ODI against Bangladesh in Mirpur on Sunday, December 4. Notably, India could score 186 before getting all out as well.
However, their bowlers started well before an unbeaten 51-run partnership between Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mustafizur Rahman for the last wicket helped Bangladesh win the match. While reviewing India’s batting performance during a discussion on Sony Sports, Saba Karim said:
“It is now time for us to pay attention to our white-ball cricket. The first thing is you will have to decide that our white-ball cricket has some issues which need to be resolved and for that, I feel you need an entire restructuring.”
However, Karim also questioned whether Team India has players who can bat with an aggressive manner. He said:
“This is being discussed for many days, if you have agreed that there is a problem, how will you address it? Do we need to bring a change in our game plan or our brand of cricket? Do we need to play with a different template? If we have to play like that, do we have the players like that or not?”
“I feel we are still in doubt what path we need to take” – Saba Karim
However, India scored only 48 runs in the first 10 overs while losing only one wicket. On the other hand, Shakib Al Hasan picked up a fifer as well.
“If you feel you have the players like that, are we creating an environment like that so that they can bat freely, if we have decided that we have to bat aggressively. I feel we are still in doubt what path we need to take and on top of that if we get a challenging wicket like today, we get stuck even more,” he again shared.
“You will have to create different profiles for players and empower them that if you have to play aggressive cricket, this has to be your approach, then you cannot go the other way, whichever way the game might be going. You will have to continue to bat dominantly if you have decided that is going to be your template,” Saba Karim concluded.
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