Former England captain and commentator, Nasser Hussain, made some really shocking comments on Team India over their repeated failures to win any major ICC events since 2013, ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022, which is all set to get underway in Australia on October 16.
India last won an ICC event in Champions Trophy in 2013. Since then, they have failed to get past the knockout round of major ICC events, and even the Men in Blue were unable to qualify for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup last year in the UAE, despite performing admirably in bilateral series.
Well, ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022, Hussain said that the Indian team has played some timid cricket in world events over the last few years and even played some fearful cricket in the last World Cup, saying they couldn’t perform at their best when it mattered the most.
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Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports Cricket: “India's issues have been ICC events really. They have been going around beating everyone, with a variety of players, they have rotated and rested. But the truth is that they have played some timid cricket in world events like almost gone into their shell. They definitely played some fearful cricket in the last World Cup, especially in the powerplays.”
Opining on how should India's approach be at the T20 World Cup 2022, and the importance of having a solid all-rounder in the playing XI, the former cricketer noted: “India have got to keep the hitting potential. Suryakumar Yadav has been in unbelievable form. They are missing two great cricketers in Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah.”
He continued, “They have got to keep the same mindset they have had in the bilateral events. At the start of T20 cricket, everyone talked about how there is no need to worry about No.7, they'll probably get like seven balls to face, so might as well play the extra bowler.”
Hussain signed off by saying, “But actually, if you have a solid No.7 in an all-rounder, then it means that your top six can absolutely go for it. That has been an issue for India, they don't have enough all-rounders and Pakistan as well. Babar and Rizwan are so worried about the depth of their batting, so 20 overs becomes a very long time.”
