A little while after New Zealand completed an easy win against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi on Sunday and grabbed the second semi-final spot from Group 2 of the T20 World Cup, Team India called off their optional training session on the eve of their final Super 12 clash versus Namibia in Dubai.
The Indians were supposed to train at the ICC Academy ground in Dubai in the evening. But with Afghanistan failing to an upset against the Black Caps, it left the Indians shattered. Regardless of how much of a short work they can make of the Namibians on Monday, the result will carry no significance.
For sure, Virat Kohli deserved something better in what’s set to be his 50th T20I as India captain and also his final appearance as a skipper. It all boils down to the defeats to Pakistan and New Zealand in the first two games.
The leadership group and the coaching staff, though, are of the opinion that if there was a short break between the IPL and the ongoing World Cup, things could have been different. Jasprit Bumrah, the team’s lead pacer, had spoken on these lines after India’s loss to New Zealand, which caused all the damage.
On the eve of their concluding game in this edition, India bowling coach Bharat Arun said: “Definitely, being on the road for (almost) six months is a huge ask.
“I think the players haven’t gone home ever since they had a short break after the last IPL (first leg) and they are in a bubble for the last six months or so. And that takes a huge toll.
“To be very specific, maybe a short break between the (end of) IPL (second phase) and the World Cup would have done a lot of good for these boys,” Arun, whose stint too ends along with that of head coach Ravi Shastri after Monday’s game, added.
Arun thinks losing the toss too has been a big reason behind India’s debacle.
“Not trying to give any excuses, but in this World Cup, the trend has been the team that wins the toss has a big advantage, especially when you’re playing in Dubai. And the wicket kind of eases out when you come on to bowl in the second half,” Arun stated.
