Why is Venkatesh Prasad miffed with the Indian cricket team?

Former Indian fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad is forthright in expressing his opinions about the Indian cricket team's matters. The cricket legend has once again highlighted his worries regarding the recent performance of the Indian team during their tour of West Indies.

Under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, the team has faced consecutive losses in two T20I matches against the West Indies. This marks the first time in 12 years that the Indian team has experienced back-to-back defeats against the Caribbean side. These losses raise concerns, especially with the Asia Cup and the One Day International (ODI) World Cups just two months away.

Prasad's perspective

Using his X (formerly Twitter) account to voice his thoughts, Prasad said: "Very Very Ordinary. No point in brushing it aside. After the 2007 T20 World Cup, IPL started, and we haven't won a T20 World Cup in seven attempts, making only 1 final. The intensity and hunger to win need to be far more."

Very very ordinary. No point in brushing it aside. After the 2007 T20 World Cup, IPL started and we haven’t won a T20 World Cup in 7 attempts since, making only 1 finals. The intensity and hunger to win needs to be far more .
Yesterday after Yuzi took 2 wkts in the 16th, cont https://t.co/xNOfjqZJeG

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) August 7, 2023

Prasad's observation is accurate as the Indian team has not secured a T20 World Cup victory since 2007. Although the team reached the finals in 2014 against Sri Lanka, they were defeated in the match.

His intention is to convey that the Indian Premier League (IPL) has not contributed significantly to the growth of Indian cricket, considering the team's limited success in ICC tournaments since 2008.

Critique of Pandya's captaincy

Prasad criticised Hardik Pandya's captaincy during the second T20 against the West Indies. He noted that Pandya did not bring in Yuzvendra Chahal for a fourth spell, despite the leg-spinner taking two wickets. Prasad argued that the West Indies' lower-order batsmen found it easier to face the pacers, resulting in their victory.

"And Yuzi got India back into the game in his third over, with West Indies 8th down. He didn't bowl again, and the number 9 and 10 found the pacers easier to handle. We should be smarter in these moments rather than just following the textbook approach," Prasad said.

Indian team's performance

Venkatesh Prasad had raised concerns about the team's approach a few days prior, stating that the Indian team lacks the excitement of England and the brutality of the Australian team from the past.

Test cricket aside, India has been very ordinary in the other two formats for quite sometime now.
Lost odi series against ban, SA and Aus. Poor in the last two T20 World Cups.
Neither are we an exciting team like England nor brutal like how the Aussies used to be. Cont

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) July 30, 2023

This was not the first instance. Prasad had previously engaged in a debate with cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra about Shubman Gill's performance in test cricket.

Prasad had criticized Gill's selection in the team despite his mediocre performances.

Mohammad Kaif calls for unity among fans

Conversely, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif urged fans to rally behind the Indian team despite their losses in the West Indies.

He wrote on his X account, "A small request to cricket fans: Don't write off the Indian team. Show unity, don't be divided by your individual player preferences. Rohit and Dravid have led successful campaigns even without star players like Bumrah. The World Cup is coming home; the team needs your support."

Small request for cricket fans: Don't write off Indian team. Show unity, don't be divided by your individual choice of players. Rohit and Dravid have played big tournaments without stars like Bumrah. World Cup is coming home, the boys need your support.

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 6, 2023

Although we cannot confirm if this was directed at Prasad or not, Kaif certainly wishes for both fans and former cricketers to stand by the Indian team during challenging times.