Former India head coach Ravi Shastri lashed out at Team India for their poor fielding after the hosts suffered a four-wicket defeat in the opening match of the three-match T20I series against Australia on Tuesday (September 20) in Mohali.
Defending 209 runs, India dropped three catches, of which two were crucial catches of Cameron Green, who made 61, and Matthew Wade (45*), and they made the most of the lifeline to win the match for Australia. Both were given a lifeline of a dropped catch each.
After the match, Shastri noted that India had been the best team in the world when it comes to fielding in the last 5–6 years, but India's fielding was really disappointing in the first match and said that the Men in Blue must work on it if they want to win matches against big teams.
Ravi Shastri said on Star Sports: “If you look at all the top Indian teams over the years, there is youth and experience. I find the youth missing here and hence the fielding. If you look at the last five-six years, fielding-wise, I think this side is no match to any of the top sides when it comes to fielding. And that can hit badly in big tournaments.”
Speaking on the impact of fielding on the batting side, the former coach noted: “It means that as a batting side you have to get that 15-20 runs game after game, because if you look around the field, where is brilliance? There is no Ravindra Jadeja. Where is that X-factor?”
He signed off by saying, “What I was disappointed today with was the standard of fielding. I mean, it looks sloppy and I think you need a big upping of the ante when it comes to the fielding if you have to beat big sides in big competitions.”
The series will now move to Nagpur, where the second match is scheduled to be played on 23 September.
