File image of Virender Sehwag©Twitter
After the semi-final loss at the T20 World Cup, the focus seems to be on rebuilding the side for a better performance at next year’s ODI World CUp. However, the journey to that goal got off to a bad start after India took an unassailable 2-0 lead against Bangladesh on Wednesday. India’s sloppy batting and inability to deliver the killing blow contributed to their second successive series defeat in Bangladesh after diminutive Mehidy Hasan Miraz led the hosts to a five-run victory in the second ODI with a memorable hundred. Miraz harried the Indian bowlers en route to his first century as Bangladesh made a remarkable recovery to reach 271 for seven. India’s challenge looked anywhere at 207 for seven, but skipper Rohit Sharma’s valiant effort (51 out of 28 balls) was in vain as he almost took his team home while batting with a split left tire.
After the loss, former India opener Virender Sehwag gave an idiosyncratic take on India’s recent form. “Cryptos se bhi tez gir rahi hai apni performance yaar(Our performance drops faster than cryptocurrencies). Need to shake up – wake up,” he wrote in a tweet.
Cryptos se bhi tez gir rahi hai apni performance yaar. Need to shake up – wake up.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 7, 2022
Speaking of the game, India needed a six on the last ball of the game, but Mustafizur did well to perfect the yorker under pressure after bowling a slew of slow leg breaks in the 48th to force Mohammed Siraj to take a girl out to play.
Bangladesh had also won their last ODI series against home in 2015 when Mashrafe Mortaza’s men beat MS Dhoni and Co.
The series loss also forces India to go back to the drawing board with the World Cup less than 12 months away.
With 65 for four, India was in trouble in the chase before a spurt 101-ball 107 run between Shreyas Iyer (82 of 102) and Axar Patel (56 of 56) brought them back into the game.
Captain Rohit did not come out after injuring his elbow while fielding in Bangladesh’s innings. It was only after the fall of the seventh wicket that he decided to walk into the middle, but he looked clearly uncomfortable.
With PTI inputs
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