Former cricketer Mohammed Kaif shared his frustration after India's loss to Bangladesh in Dhaka in the first of their three ODIs on Sunday, December 4. Kaif flagged up some serious issues that led to India's undoing, and these issues show that the Men In Blue have no answers in the first ODI as they faced defeat from the throngs of victory.
Speaking to Hindustan Times after the match, Kaif said that the game was in the hands of Rohit Sharma and co. and the bowling for the most part was excellent. However, he raised the question as to who the team's death bowler is. "It was India's game, they had taken nine wickets. The bowling was excellent, they got India back into the game after the batters had a bad day. The bowling covered up for that until the 40th over, but in the last 10 overs, who is our death bowler? Is it Deepak Chahar or Kuldeep Sen?"
"We dropped catches. KL Rahul doesn't keep that often. He is a good fielder, he ran out of Litton Das with a direct hit from the deep in the T20 World Cup. Sundar didn't dive to try and take the catch," said Kaif.
The ex-cricketer said that if team India wishes to win the forthcoming ODI World Cup they will have to learn to perform under pressure as the team caved in to pressure in the first ODI against Bangladesh. "The fielders were seen under pressure. We made mistakes under pressure. We bowled wide balls and no-balls. You have to overcome pressure if you have to win the World Cup. That is how a team emerges, whether you talk about New Zealand or England, who are at the top in white-ball cricket."
"I am disappointed that we are crumbling under pressure. You can talk about captaincy or bowling changes. The game went well until the 40th over, but then came Mehidy Hasan Miraz and showed the Bangladesh batters how to play. But I feel the young bowlers couldn't finish the game in the last 10 overs," said Kaif.