Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull opined that Indian players lack the “fearless” and ruthless attitude that is required to win major ICC tournaments.
For the past decade, India have failed to win a single ICC trophy at the senior men’s level despite having some of the most talented and skillful players in the world, and almost always starting as one of the strong favorites.
Once again, with just three weeks to go for the World Cup 2023, Rohit Sharma‘s Men In Blue are strong contenders to lift the World Cup trophy. However, for that, Simon Doull feels, the Indian batters need to play the modern brand of cricket and not think of their own numbers.
“Indian players don’t play fearless cricket. They play stats-driven cricket. Indian players are too worried about the stats too often. To me, that is one area I am concerned about their batting,” Simon Doull said on Sky Sports when discussing the Indian squad along with Nasser Hussain.
“Indian players don’t take risks”: Simon Doull
Simon Doull added that India’s failures in crunch matches in the last few World Cups – ODI and T20I WC – have been because their batters don’t take as many risks as often. The 54-year-old commentator asserted that the Indian players, especially the big-name superstars, are too much worried about what would be said by the media and fans if their risks don’t come off.
“They have got all the talent. It is about playing fearless cricket at the right time of the tournament and I think that is what has really let them down in the last three World Cups. They don’t go out and take risks because they are so worried about what might be said, about what might be printed,” Doull added.
India have recently reached the Asia Cup 2023 final. A win in the Asia Cup would be a great confidence boost ahead of the home World Cup for India.
