After being 0-2 down in the T20I series against the West Indies, Hardik Pandya's boys produced a stellar comeback to make it 2-2 going in to the fifth T20I. But on Sunday, the Men In Blue could not live up to the expectations as they lost by eight wickets and in turn the series, 3-2. In what was a rare T20I series defeat for India, critics and pundits have come down heavily on Hardik Pandya's side especially criticising their on-field affairs. Amongst them is former India bowler Venkatesh Prasad, who lambasted the Indian team, suggesting that they're living in an illusion.
West Indies won the 5-match T20I series 3-2 thanks to Brandon King's blistering 85 off 55 balls as the hosts won the final T20I in a canter. Prasad said that the team lacked hunger or fire.
"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 tweeted on X (formerly Twitter).
"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," he further said in response to a fan.
Within 24 hours of producing a batting master-class on a featherbed, the Indian batters, save Suryakumar Yadav's scratchy yet effective 61 off 45 balls, posted a sub-par score of 165 for nine after opting to bat on a used track that had become slower.
On a pitch where stroke-making wasn't an easy proposition, Surya had to curb his flair a bit but still had enough firepower in his arsenal to hit four fours and three sixes during his knock. In reply, India's nemesis Nicholas Pooran (47 not out off 35 balls) looked way more fluent but was overshadowed by opener King as they added 107 runs for the second wicket to put West Indies on course despite three weather related interruptions.
(With PTI inputs)
