Former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman and commentator Deep Dasgupta was disappointed with India’s performance and body language on Day 2 of the ongoing third Test against England at Headingley, Leeds.
After a disastrous outing, scoring just 78 runs in the first innings, the Indian cricket team had a hard toil on the field for a day and a half, as England captain Joe Root hammered yet another magnificent century to take the hosts to 432, leading by 354 runs in Leeds.
Reacting to Team India’s performance, Dasgupta opined that the tourists looked a little mentally down on the field, saying they lacked the intensity and their fielding was very shabby against England.
He pointed out that the Indian team made several comebacks from such situations in the past, but this time, the team’s body language wasn’t looking good, as he expected a bit more intensity from the team.
Speaking on BBC’s Test Match Special podcast, Dasgupta said: “One of the biggest things about this Indian team under Virat is the intensity levels. And the fielding, that was very sloppy today. There weren’t dropped catches apart from Rohit Sharma, that tough one yesterday. But just the out-cricket as we call it was very, very shabby today. That just tells you that they are mentally a little down there.”
He continued, “You can get out for 78. India has got out for 36, right? And they have come back really hard. But then, it’s just the body language. That’s not the Indian team that we know that we have seen for the last few years. Even though it was a really, really tough day, getting out at 78, obviously, your shoulders would droop. At least I was expecting a little more intensity on the field today.”
Dasgupta was disappointed with the way India didn’t try out different things, despite their plans were not working, to make comeback in the ongoing third Test against England in Leeds.
He signed off by saying, “You did not try anything different. Did the Indian team take things for granted? Okay, Plan A has worked so far, it will work. May not be ready or open-minded about a Plan B Plan C if required.”
