Virat Kohli & Co. suffered a 8-wicket loss against New Zealand in the WTC final.
Following India’s loss in WTC 2021 Final, former Indian skipper Kapil Dev said the media often presents the team in a harsh light, after just a bad game and tends to overlook the better performances in the past.
Team India suffered a disappointing 8-wicket loss in the WTC final against New Zealand. The Virat Kohli-led side displayed a poor batting performance on the reserve day of the final, setting New Zealand a target of 139 runs which Kane Williamson-led side chased comfortably.
By suffering a loss against New Zealand in the WTC final, Virat Kohli-led side once again invited criticism as this was their fifth straight defeat in the knockout stages of the ICC tournaments and many fans and pundits remarked that the Indian team struggles to cope with the pressure of the big occasion.
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However, the 1983 World Cup-winning skipper Kapil Dev has defended Team India, saying that reaching the semi-final or final of the tournament is an achievement in itself. He added that one poor outing shouldn't define them.
“Tell me one thing: they are reaching the semi-final or final each and every time, isn't that an achievement in itself? We criticize very quickly. You can't win the trophy every time.
“Look at how well they played. If they lose one match here or the World Cup semi-final, does that mean they are succumbing to pressure? No, that's not how it goes,” Kapil Dev said on Sports Yaari's YouTube channel.
Kapil Dev further pointed out that New Zealand had a better day and they played better than India. He lashed out at the media, saying that they often criticize the team after every bad game and tend to overlook the better performances in the tournament.
“They (the opposition) had a better day, they played better. We see it very critically – one bad performance and the media shows it a hundred times: ‘These guys can’t take the pressure. We have all won a lot of games under the same pressure as well,” he said.
Virat Kohli’s men will next face hosts England in the five-Test series, starting 4th August at Trent Bridge.