Former Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad has unleashed a scathing critique of the Indian cricket team’s recent performance and leadership in the wake of their T20I series defeat against West Indies. The series loss marked India’s first bilateral defeat in T20Is since 2021 and has ended their previously unbeaten streak of 12 series wins.
Prasad, known for his straightforward opinions, minced no words in his assessment of the team’s display. He pointed out the need for serious introspection, highlighting the team’s subpar performance in limited-overs cricket over an extended period. While India triumphed convincingly in the Test and ODI formats during their West Indies tour, the T20I series presented a formidable challenge from the Caribbean side, which had previously struggled to qualify for the T20 World Cup.
In a tweet shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Prasad expressed his concerns about India’s limited-overs performance. He wrote, “India has been a very very ordinary limited overs side for sometime now. They have been humbled by a West Indies side that failed to qualify for the T20 WC few months back. We had also lost to Ban in the ODI series. Hope they introspect instead of making silly statements.”
Prasad’s criticism was particularly directed at India’s T20I captain, Hardik Pandya, who appeared unfazed by the series defeat and emphasized a focus on the “long process.” Prasad countered this sentiment by highlighting the fact that West Indies had not only failed to qualify for the previous T20 World Cup but also missed out on the Super-12 stage.
He noted, “Not just 50 overs, West Indies had failed to qualify for the T20 World cup last Oct-Nov as well. It pains to see India perform poorly and brush it under the carpet, under the garb of process. That hunger, fire is missing and we live in an illusion.”
Furthermore, Prasad responded to queries from users, asserting that accountability lies with the team captain and management. He criticized the inconsistent selection process and noted the misuse of terms like “process” in explaining poor performances. Prasad’s candid remarks shed light on the need for a more transparent and accountable approach to team management and player selection.
As cricket enthusiasts and fans of the Indian team grapple with the aftermath of the series defeat, Prasad’s critique highlights the urgency for introspection and a renewed focus on performance. The Indian cricket fraternity will undoubtedly be closely observing how the team responds to this criticism, as they aim to regain their winning momentum and uphold the nation’s cricketing pride.
