Mohammad Kaif came down heavily on Rohit Sharma and co. after Bangladesh defeated India in the first ODI of the three-match series in Dhaka on December 4. India let a match that they should have won out of their grasp as Bangladesh registered a stunning one-wicket win to go 1-0 up in the series.
The Indian batting unit crumbled against the Bangladesh attack, led by Shakib Al Hasan and Ebadot Hossain, who picked five and four wickets respectively and only KL Rahul with 73 withstood their assault as India was bowled out for 186 runs.
In response, despite captain Litton Das’s 41, Indian bowlers kept a tight leash on Bangla batters, reducing them to 136/9 at one stage. But then Mehidy Hasan played an amazing knock of 38* and with Mustafizur Rahman’s 10*, added 51* runs for the last wicket, as Bangladesh won with four overs to spare and one wicket in hand.
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Shortly after the outcome, many blamed India's poor fielding for the loss. KL Rahul and Washington Sundar had the opportunity to wrap the contest in India's favor, but the two failed to do so.
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif also echoed similar views but also posed a strong question, which he felt cost India the match.
"It was India's game, they had taken nine wickets. The bowling was excellent, they got India back into the game after the batters had a bad day. The bowling covered up for that until the 40th over, but in the last 10 overs, who is our death bowler? Is it Deepak Chahar or Kuldeep Sen?
We dropped catches. KL Rahul doesn't keep that often. He is a good fielder, he ran out Litton Das with a direct hit from the deep in the T20 World Cup. Sundar didn't dive to try and take the catch," noted Kaif during a discussion on Sony Sports.
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Issuing a stern warning to Rohit Sharma and Co., he further stated: "The fielders were seen under pressure. We made mistakes under pressure. We bowled wide balls and no-balls. You have to overcome pressure if you have to win the World Cup. That is how a team emerges, whether you talk about New Zealand or England, who are at the top in white-ball cricket.
I am disappointed that we are crumbling under pressure. You can talk about captaincy or bowling changes. The game went well until the 40th over, but then came Mehidy Hasan Miraz and showed the Bangladesh batters how to play. But I feel the young bowlers couldn't finish the game in the last 10 overs."
The second ODI will also be played in Dhaka on Wednesday, December 7.
