Shoaib Akhtar Heavily Criticises Team India After Auckland Loss
Feb 9, 2020 at 6:26 PM
Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar is always upfront to keep his opinion about the Indian cricketers. After India lost the second ODI against New Zealand, Akhtar heavily criticised the performance of Virat Kohli‘s men in Auckland. Meanwhile, the Kiwis have clinched the three-match ODI series with 2-0.
Handed over the task to set the target, New Zealand set the target of 248 runs. Opener Martin Guptill and the veteran Ross Taylor contributed the most, scoring 79 and 73 runs respectively. While Jasprit Bumrah went wicketless and Shardul Thakur proved to be the economical bowler, giving six runs in an over and he also picked two wickets.
India’s poor show in Auckland:
In chasing the target, India had a poor show with the bat as the team lost the top order in first 10 overs. Captain Kohli was also sent back after he just scored 15 runs. While the middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer tried to take the team forward but he soon lost his wicket after scoring 50.
KL Rahul was also successful in putting runs in the scoreboard.
Surprisingly, lower-order batsman Saini and Ravindra Jadeja stitched 76-run partnership taking India close to the target.
However, all the efforts went into vain as the visitors were bundled out by the New Zealand bowlers. India went on to lose the game by 22 runs.
Shoaib Akhtar criticises Team India’s performance:
Shoaib Akhtar believed that India deserved the defeat because of the way they played the game. He felt that the Men in Blue failed in every department in the penultimate ODI.
“India deserved this lesson. You cannot win ODIs by playing such poor cricket. India looked at a very average side today. But credit to New Zealand for coming back so strong after 0-5 loss in T20IS. That type of loss can be demoralizing for any team but they have made a solid comeback. This is a learning curve for India, they need to show character.”
“No one had an answer to Taylor’s innings. I don’t understand how you can let the game slip from reducing the opposition to 7-8 down. I’m repeatedly saying India is missing a strike bowler. Chahal came in place of Kuldeep, he did well but they lacked someone who could put his hand up when they needed wickets,”
Meanwhile, India will head to play the third and final ODI match of the series at the Bay Oval on Tuesday (12 February).