Ex-Cricketer Tears Into India's Pace Struggles: 'Everyone Just Tried To Attack'

Former cricketer Anil Kumble has said that one doesn’t expect a world champion team like the Indian T20I side to collapse as they did against England in the third T20I, adding that the attacking approach by the batters proved to be a massive blunder while chasing a 200-plus target.

Chasing 202, the reigning world champions were skittled for just 76, slumping to a 125-run loss to England and falling 0-2 behind in the five-match series. Kumble described the result as a complete failure, blaming both the team’s on-field execution and the decisions made by the management.

Speaking on JioHotstar‘s Match Centre Live, Kumble delivered a scathing assessment of India’s tactical shortcomings against the relentless 145 kmph pace of Jofra Archer and Josh

Tongue.

“It was an abject surrender by the Indian team. You don’t expect a world champion side to cave in like that. The Indian batters needed to show more patience and application, but everyone just tried to attack instead of absorbing the pressure,” Kumble said.

“Yes, the required rate was over 10, but someone had to take responsibility and bat deep. Instead, they went the aggressive route and paid the price with a batting collapse,” Kumble added.

The former cricketer’s criticism, however, went well beyond India’s batting collapse. Kumble questioned the team management’s puzzling tactical calls as well, the decision to push power-hitter Shivam Dube down the order during a daunting run chase.

“In T20s, you put your best batters up front. Sending out Harshit Rana to bat ahead of a more complete batter like Shivam Dube was wrong. You cannot expect a number eight guy to win you a game by sending him to bat ahead of a proven guy,” Kumble said.

The former Indian cricketer also blamed the team’s constant tinkering with the playing XI for disrupting the bowlers’ rhythm and confidence.