We Were Too Complacent, Says Farokh Engineer After India’s Humiliating Loss In Pune
Feb 4, 2019 at 1:32 PM
Expressing his shock over India’s humiliating 333-run loss against Australia in Pune, former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer has criticised the pitch.
On a pitch that was assisting the spinner right from day one, the Indian batsmen failed to apply themselves in either of the innings and were bowled out for 105 and 107. Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe, who was playing his first Test in India, was the wrecker-in-chief by taking 12 wickets in the match and playing an integral role in helping his team finish the match inside three days.
“I am totally shocked. I watched every ball in this game, the first ball turns square, you don’t prepare a test match wicket in this manner. You prepare a Test match wicket to last five days,” Engineer told the reporters in Mumbai.
Engineer further said that India’s ploy of pressurising the opposition by preparing a rank turner totally backfired.
“Umesh (Yadav) and Australian quicks (pacers) got the wickets. As it so happened Australians won the toss and decided to bat. I think the whole thing misfired in our faces, we never expected,” he explained.
The former player also accused the Indian spinners of being complacent before criticising India’s poor display in the field.
“We were too complacent, our spinners are the best in the world, (Ravichandran) Ashwin, (Ravindra) Jadeja, they are fantastic bowlers. We missed so many chances. Looking at Australia’s fielding, close-in fielding, I remembered of Eknath Solkar’s days. They were not taking catches they were making catches, which put them in a strong position,” he said.
The engineer said that KL Rahul’s poor shot that ended his 64-run knock in the first innings was responsible for India’s inexplicable collapse.
“Our first innings problem was when (KL) Rahul got out and he played a silly shot and that started the debacle. When you are set and you know that a fresh batsman will come, you do not play such a shot. I hope the captain has ticked him. You just don’t do that,” he added.
At the same, he took nothing away from the Australian team and gave them the credit for their brilliant performance against the world number one team.
“We were playing, (like) we are playing IPL. Good bowling. You have to give Australians credit, they outplayed us. It hurts me as an Indian. We were humiliated and this is not (what) we expected after great performances against England and New Zealand,” he concluded.