Defensive approach, missed chances cost India match against Pakistan

Zee Media Bureau/ Yogesh Pandey

Mirpur: The match against Pakistan once again witnessed same entrenched incoherence in Team India`s conviction. If MS Dhoni was being criticised for embracing defensiveness in South Africa and New Zealand, Virat Kohli too was not different against Pakistan at Sher-e-Bangla stadium, Mirpur on Sunday. Despite setting up a low total, Kohli could have sealed the match with his aggressive captaincy, given a good show by spinners Amit Mishra and R Ashwin during middle overs. His field-setting was largely defensive that led to a vital 87-run partnership between Mohammed Hafeez and Sohaib Maqsood. Both the batsmen kept scoring singles and doubles and let the scoreboard ticking. India faltered from there after registering a comeback by sending four Pakistan batsmen with 113 runs on the board. Missed Opportunity Dinesh Karthik must be ruing his lack of concentration after missing a stumping chance of Maqsood at a time when Pakistan was cruising at 170 for 4. Karthik did the same mistake in the match against Sri Lanka as well, when he missed a stumping chance and gave a lifeline to in-form Kumar Sangakkara which proved the turning point of the match. Karthik has failed to justify his presence as a replacement of injured MS Dhoni. Those who were hoping that Virat Kohli as skipper would resurrect Team India's fortune post win-less streak in South Africa and New Zealand, must be disappointed after the team lost consecutive thrillers against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Asia Cup. The back-to-back losses have widened the cracks which come out in open with every defeat, and that too at a time when the World Champions will be defending the title a year later, under the same seaming and swinging conditions, where they recently failed miserably.