India’s hour of shame: Why and how much-idolised cricket team lost to Bangladesh
_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0.jpg "India’s hour of shame: Why and how much-idolised cricket team lost to Bangladesh")
Mumbai/Mirpur: Bangladesh did what their fans hoped for and what majority of Indian supporters believed would not happen to win the 3-match ODI series in Mirpur. While the hometeam’s performance deserves all the praise, India’s below-par showing played a part to their downfall.
India were 'on a different level'?
Agreed, that Bangladesh had won four of the last six series played at home. But India, with a team that boasts some of the top-notch batsmen in the world, were favourites to win the series.
Following India’s defeat in the first ODI of the series, Suresh Raina had said, “This loss is a bit shocking for us and it's hurting a lot. Yes, they played better than us but we are still a better team. Their cricket is improving day by day but we are on a different level.”
Read: ‘Bangla cricket is improving but we are on a different level’
Bangladesh though clearly gave Raina’s statement a twist and thumped India for the second time in a row.
India could not cling on what Rohit hoped for:
One has to accept that Bangladesh were a better team and looked more than motivated to post a challenge to Men In Blue.
Rohit Sharma said, "We knew what went wrong in the first match. We will think about it and when we come back and play the second ODI it will be a different Indian side. We have got certain plans coming their way, hopefully we will try and execute those plans and things will work in our favour then.”
Read: India must be at best to beat Bangladesh
But India failed to do what Rohit hoped for. In fact, India looked jaded, out of place and sluggish in the second ODI.
What was Virat Kohli thinking?
So much so that, the otherwise the ever so aggressive Virat Kohli defended a free-hit delivery, an event which summed up the mind set India seemed to have played the series with.
Virat Kohli's defensive shot off a free hit summed up India's performance in this series! #BanvInd
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 21, 2015Stop kidding:
Ahead of the series, the broadcaster ran a commercial saying ‘Bachha ab badd ho rahaa hai’ (The kid is growing up), referring to Bangladesh progress.
As The Tigers thumped India to win the ODI series in Mirpur on Sunday, it is better to accept that ‘The Bachha’ has grown up and made India swallow a bitter pill.
