Former Pakistan Cricketer Ahmed Shehzad Slams Indian Team After Loss to New Zealand
Shehzad went on to label the Indian players as “schoolboys,” suggesting that they had become complacent. He pointed to Rohit Sharma’s earlier remarks after a disappointing innings where India was bowled out for just 46 runs in the first Test, where he said, “Everyone has a bad day.” However, Shehzad believes that the Indian team’s lackluster performance in the subsequent Tests showed a worrying trend of complacency.
Following India’s recent defeat to New Zealand in the second Test match in Pune, former Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad didn’t hold back in his criticism of Rohit Sharma and the Indian cricket team. India lost by 113 runs, marking the end of their impressive streak of 18 consecutive bilateral home series victories.
In a scathing assessment on his YouTube channel, Shehzad claimed that New Zealand “pulled a prank” on the Indian team, describing their performance as one that “thrashed” India like “kids.” He stated, “New Zealand have come to India and beaten them as if they had the right to do so. People are now saying they are 'tigers on paper' who crumbled at home.”
Shehzad went on to label the Indian players as “schoolboys,” suggesting that they had become complacent. He pointed to Rohit Sharma’s earlier remarks after a disappointing innings where India was bowled out for just 46 runs in the first Test, where he said, “Everyone has a bad day.” However, Shehzad believes that the Indian team’s lackluster performance in the subsequent Tests showed a worrying trend of complacency. “Rohit Sharma says they don’t believe in unnecessary talk, but that spirit was missing in the last two Tests. It seemed like schoolboys were playing,” he commented.
This defeat not only has implications for the morale of the Indian team but also affects their chances in the World Test Championship (WTC). Although India currently tops the WTC standings, they need to secure a victory in the final Test against New Zealand and aim for a favorable outcome in their upcoming series against Australia to solidify their position in the top two.
In response to the situation, Rohit Sharma has been tasked with leading an 18-member squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which includes three uncapped players: opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, all-rounder Nitish Reddy, and pacer Harshit Rana. Notably, veteran bowler Mohammed Shami has been excluded from the squad.
As the Indian team prepares for the final Test against New Zealand, the pressure will be on Rohit Sharma and his players to not only reclaim their home dominance but also to address the criticisms aimed at them following their recent performances.
