"After Pakistan, India have also forgotten how to bat against the spinners" - Basit Ali
Former Pakistani batter Basit Ali feels the Team India batters have forgotten how to counter spinners. The Indian side struggled against leg spinner Jeffrey Vandersay at R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, August 4, in the second ODI of their ongoing three-match series against Sri Lanka.
Vandersay ran through India's star-studded batting line-up, bagging a six-wicket haul. The visitors suffered a 32-run defeat in the contest, getting bundled out for 208 while chasing a 241-run target.
Speaking in his latest YouTube video, here's what Basit Ali said about the Indian batters' performances against the Sri Lankan spinners (from 1:30):
"I feel after Pakistan, India have also forgotten how to bat against the spinners. Maybe because the focus was more on T20s. I feel sad seeing Shivam Dube's dismissal. He couldn't even read it from the hand. Washington Sundar got out in similar fashion in the first match."
The cricketer-turned-expert also suggested that Shivam Dube doesn't deserve a place in India's ODI team. Reckoning that senior all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja are a must in the Men in Blue's 50-over team, he said (from 6:45):
"Keep Shivam Dube only for T20s, don't pick for the ODIs. Or, make him play 50-over matches in domestic cricket first. India's ODI team cannot be complete without Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja."
Dube was promoted to the No. 4 spot in the batting order by the Indian think tank for the second ODI. The southpaw failed to make the most of the opportunity, getting out for a four-ball duck.
Basit mentioned that Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir should have considered sending Axar Patel instead of Dube, adding (2:01):
"Gautam Gambhir is using the wrong combination. If he wanted to use the left-right combo, Axar Patel could have come ahead and then Rishabh Pant could have played. Instead of Dube, play two wicketkeepers."
India are yet to win a single game in the ongoing ODI series. The first fixture ended in a tie, with both sides finishing at 230 after their respective innings.
"Is Rohit Sharma the only batsman in the Indian team at present?" - Basit Ali on the Indian batters' underwhelming performances in ODI series against Sri Lanka
Skipper Rohit Sharma has been India's standout batting performer so far in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, registering scores of 58 and 64. Basit Ali pointed out how apart from Sharma, the remaining batters have failed to contribute significantly.
He emphasized that India cannot rely solely on senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to do the job every single time. Basit remarked in the aforementioned video (from 0:51):
"The first wicket fell on 97, that too when Rohit Sharma got out while playing the reverse sweep. Is Rohit Sharma the only batsman in the Indian team at present? Is there no other batsman? Shubman Gill as usual got out after 30-35 runs. Who is going to take the responsibility? Will we only see the names of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli? What are the other players doing?"
The upcoming third ODI between India and Sri Lanka is a must-win one for Rohit Sharma and Co. as they look to avoid a series defeat. The match will be played at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Wednesday, August 7.