Former Indian Test opener Sadagopan Ramesh questioned Pakistan’s batting approach after they suffered a five-wicket loss against India in the Asia Cup final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Sunday.

Pakistan got off to a great start as they were 113-1 at one stage but veered off the track as they were skittled out for only 146 runs. Pakistan’s middle order crumbled like a pack of cards as their batters could not deliver. 

Barring the Pakistan openers – Sahibzada Farhan (57) and Fakhar Zaman (46) – none of the batters could get going against Indian bowlers. Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the bowlers as he returned with figures of 4-30 in his quota of four overs.

Sadagopan Ramesh said on his YouTube Channel,”When Pakistan kept losing wickets from 113/1, they never changed their method. They kept playing for boundaries and sixes without ever assessing the situation. Pakistan batters also lack the unorthodox shots needed in T20 cricket. All they do is attempt slogs over long on and deep mid-wicket. They played Shivam Dube’s bowling in the powerplay like it was Hardik Pandya bowling.”

“This is where India are different. Based on the situation, they ran ones and twos and only when they were out of trouble, they went for the big shots. Indian batters also played the unconventional shots. T20 requires evolved thinking but Pakistan continues to play outdated cricket.”

Meanwhile, Tilak Varma scored a match-winning knock of 69 runs off 53 balls in the final and was awarded Player of the Match. The former flamboyant left-hander said Varma should be groomed as a captain.

“Players like Tilak Varma should be encouraged and groomed as captain. Nothing against Shubman Gill but a performing player should be rewarded than giving a leadership position and hoping to be rewarded. If Tilak Varma continues to play such innings consistently, he might captain the Mumbai Indians and eventually India,” he said.

India will next take on the West Indies in a two-match Test series.