India bowlers failed to defend a massive total of 351 runs in the third ODI.
India's bowling department has come under severe scrutiny following a five-wicket loss to the West Indies in the third and final ODI in New Chandigarh on Saturday (October 3).
Despite putting up a massive 351/7 in the first innings, anchored by KL Rahul's unbeaten 129, the Indian bowling unit struggled deeply under heavy dew and failed to defend the total as West Indies comfortably chased it down with 10 balls to spare.
The defeat denied India a series clean sweep—though they won the series 2-1—and has ignited major alarm bells with the 2027 ODI World Cup exactly a year away.
With Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh unavailable due to Asian Games commitments and Hardik Pandya injured, India fielded a highly inexperienced bowling unit, including debutant Anshul Kamboj (0/82 in 9 overs) and Gurnoor Brar (1/64 in 9.1 overs) in the series finale.
Across the entire three-match series, the Indian bowlers leaked an astonishing 1,000+ runs. The new-ball attack managed just one wicket in the opening 10 overs across the first two matches, showing zero penetration on flat tracks.
The below-par performance has sparked scathing criticism from former India captain and chief selector Kris Srikkanth, who lambasted the attack as "pedestrian" and categorically stated that India has "no chance of winning the World Cup" with this level of bowling.
"Mohammed Siraj had two overs left, and even if he had bowled the 50th over, he would have bowled only nine overs. I didn't understand that logic. Siraj should have bowled the last over that Kamboj did. Indian bowling overall is so pedestrian. There is no chance of winning the World Cup with this bowling. India are just trying to develop random guys like Gurnoor Brar and Anshul Kamboj. There is no logic behind this," said Srikkanth on his YouTube channel.
"Even with such a pathetic West Indian attack, India only scored 350. And this is the full team except Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. You can't lose a game to a side like the West Indies," he added.
Srikkanth also criticized Nitish Kumar Reddy's utility as a seam-bowling all-rounder following India's loss in the third ODI. Reddy returned with bowling figures of 0/50 in 6.5 overs and scored 9 off 16 balls.
"Once the ball bounces slightly high, Nitish Kumar Reddy is a case and struggles. He keeps bowling even as he's getting smashed. They are adamant on making him an all-rounder somehow. It's not a good sign for Indian cricket. His batting also looks suspect on bouncy wickets," Srikkanth remarked.
India’s next ODI assignment is the five-match series against New Zealand, slated to begin on November 4 in Auckland.