India crashed out of the 20-20 World Cup 2022 after making it to the knockouts and the Men in Blue were highly criticised for lacking intent when facing a mighty opponent like England. For the unversed, England chased down the target of 169 in 16 overs and with 10 wickets to spare, humbling India after having a stupendous Super 12 outing in the multinational tournament.
Nasser Hussain, England’s former captain, said that the Indian team, although they played with a new approach in the shortest format of the game post their exit in the group stage of the previous edition of the 20-20 World Cup, failed to execute the same in the knockouts of the recently concluded 20-20 World Cup 2022 that saw England emerging as the winners.
Saying that Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid tried to come up with a new approach, Hussain claimed that the Indian team slid back to their old style of playing with a conservative approach in a crucial game like the semis against the Three Lions.
India is still a massive force: Nasser Hussain
Commenting on India’s exit from the showpiece event, Hussain said that it was the intent that cost India the title. Further, the former cricketer claimed that India are in desperate need of a captain like Eoin Morgan who can give license to smash the ball even in crucial games like the knockouts.
“Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid came to change that, and they did it in bilaterals, they did it against England. Suryakumar Yadav smashed it around Trent Bridge, got a brilliant 115 (117 off 55). But then, you’ve got to take it into a game, where you know that if you lose, the sort of criticism you are going to get. The first time they took that into a knockout game, they slid back into their old style of being 66 for 2 in 10 overs,” Hussain was quoted as saying in Sky Sports.
“India is still a massive force. You look at their team on paper. You look at the players they could’ve picked. It’s a bit like England. There were a couple of blows like most sides had, like Jasprit Bumrah and Jadeja being injured. But, when it comes to knockout games, the approach needs to change. There’s talk about younger guns coming through but it’s not the players, but the mindset,” said the former cricketer further.
“They need an Eoin Morgan-type character to go in there and say play carefree cricket. 20 overs, go and smash it as much as you can for 20 overs. Play like you play in the IPL and smash it. Do it for India and don’t worry about the noise. Shut out the noise and we’ll back if you are bowled out for 120,” Hussain concluded.
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