Several former Indian cricketers have openly slammed the Indian cricket team for surrendering meekly to the English team in the first two Tests of the ongoing series.
Among those who criticised the team are Virender Sehwag, Bishan Singh Bedi and VVS Laxman, who lamented the lack of fight shown by India in the second Test against England, losing by an innings and 159 runs to go 0-2 down in the five-match series.
Sehwag’s tweet read, “Very poor from India. While we all want to stand by our team and support them when they don’t do well, going down without a fight is very disappointing to watch. Hope they have the confidence and mental strength to comeback from this.
Very poor from India. While we all want to stand by our team and support them when they don’t do well, going down without a fight is very disappointing to watch. Hope they have the confidence and mental strength to comeback from this.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 12, 2018
Bedi was even more scathing in his assessment of the performance.
“Dismal Indians at Lord’s..everyone remotely connected with Indian Cricket knows where the problem lies or stems from..but will not utter a word for want of strength of character & courage of conviction…which is even more depressing really than the batting debacle actually…!!” wrote former India spinner Bedi.
Dismal Indns at Lord’s..everyone remotely connected w/Indn Crkt knows where the problem lies or stems frm..but will not utter a word fr want of strength of character & courage o conviction..which is even more depressing really than the batting debacle actually..!!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) August 12, 2018
Laxman hoped that India had learnt their lessons from their first two successive defeats ahead of the third Test starting at Nottingham on 18 August.
“Caught in unfavourable conditions, not reading what the opposition threw saw India lose the Lord’s Test tamely without showing a fight. Hopefully lessons are learnt quickly and the rest of the batsman start applying themselves going forward,” he wrote.
Caught in unfavourable conditions, not reading what the opposition threw saw India lose the Lord’s Test tamely without showing a fight. Hopefully lessons are learnt quickly and the rest of the batsman start applying themselves going forward.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 13, 2018
For Mohammad Kaif, who had single-handedly taken India to a historic defeat at Lord’s in 2002 Natwest Trophy, the team’s performance was painful to watch.
He tweeted, “India lasted 82 overs across 2 innings. They not learning from mistakes has been very disappointing to watch. Thoroughly outplayed in all departments in this one. Lack of fight has been the most disappointing aspect. This is really painful to watch. No batsman exudes any confidence.”
Lack of fight has been the most disappointing aspect. This is really painful to watch. No batsman exudes any confidence. #ENGvIND
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 12, 2018
India lasted 82 overs across 2 innings. They not learning from mistakes has been very disappointing to watch. Thoroughly outplayed in all departments in this one.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 12, 2018
Another former batsman Vinod Kambli said India have plenty to think about ahead of the next Test.
“Our entire approach in this Test was defensive. More than anything, we allowed the English bowlers to come out on top by not playing our natural stroke playing game.The #TeamIndia think tank has a lot to ponder over in the coming days,” His tweet read.
Absolutely agree with @SGanguly99! Our entire approach in this Test was defensive. More than anything, we allowed the English bowlers to come out on top by not playing our natural stroke playing game.The #TeamIndia think tank has a lot to ponder over in the coming days. #ENGvIND
— VINOD KAMBLI (@vinodkambli349) August 12, 2018