Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has highlighted that India was doing a different preparation ahead of the T20 World Cup. Before the T20I showpiece, India posted massive totals on the board but Chopra noted that such big totals are a rarity in the World Cup events, given the amount of pressure on the players.
India was bowled out for 111 while chasing 188 against South Africa and thus suffered an ignominious loss of 76 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Sunday. Abhishek Sharma, who was India’s best batter in the T20I format, has managed only 15 runs in four innings so far.
India had registered comprehensive wins against Pakistan and Namibia in the group stage, but had to dig deep against the USA and the Netherlands.
“Did the Indian team come into this tournament slightly underprepared? Why did I say India weren’t prepared? You are thinking that we came prepared, we didn’t lose even one series, and lost four or five T20Is in total in such a long time. I am saying you weren’t prepared because the kind of cricket you were thinking you would play continuously or would be able to play, that doesn’t happen in the World Cup at all,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“This is the 10th edition of the World Cup, and if we see the matches between top Test teams, a 200-plus total has been scored only 15 times. 200 runs have never been scored in a semi-final or final to date. So we were doing a different preparation. We were saying we would score 250-275, but that kind of cricket doesn’t happen in the World Cup,” he added.
The renowned commentator recalled that Virat Kohli used to win games for India when the team used to chase.
“I was reminded of Virat Kohli, who used to come and win games, and that thing was realized a little more after the South Africa match. Of course, we have not chased that big a total to date. So I am not saying we would have chased had Kohli been there,” he said.
The former Delhi cricketer said Kohli’s absence is being felt by the team as he used to take the game deep and mostly took India over the line.
“However, Kohli’s truth is that he was unbeaten in the three biggest totals we have chased in T20 World Cup history. So he was that anchor who would actually take the team home. I mean slightly faster than an anchor, but you need somebody who can do a job like that and take the game deep. His absence is felt slightly,” Chopra observed.
India will next take on Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Thursday.
