Rohit Sharma’s India have been criticised for ‘chopping and changing’ as they failed to reach the finals of the Asian Cup T20 tournament with one match to go.

Pakistan’s victory over Afghanistan on Wednesday eliminated India from the tournament. India, who won the last Asian Cup of 2018 in a 50-over format, qualified for the qualifying round as favourites but lost their first two matches to Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

“I think there was too much chopping and changing done after just one defeat, We lost against Pakistan and made three-four changes.”

former India wicket keeper Parthiv Patel told website Cricbuzz.

India’s tinkering didn’t just stop at the endgame. Dinesh Karthik was wicket-keeper in India’s first match win over Pakistan, but Rishab Pant was retained in the middle-order.

Karthik, a hard-hitting batsman who specialises in short-format finishers, missed both Super Four matches because the left-handed Pant was retained in the middle-order. 

“The consistency and the clarity of thought is so important, especially when you play this T20 format, Dinesh Karthik came in and he was left (out). Rishabh Pant came in and would be thinking whether I am a permanent member of the team or not.”

 said Patel

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar blamed an inability to be flexible with onfield plans for India’s disappointing results.

“Too much theory … is not a very good thing. What happens on the field is completely different, You have to have a Plan A, B and C, which is where the Indian team in this particular tournament has not had alternate plans. They seem to have been stymied when things started to unravel for them. Cricket is a game that changes in seconds, particularly the T20 format, and you’ve got to be ready for it.”

Gavaskar told India Today

Shami sidelined

India can start to set things right when they face Afghanistan in the Dead Rubber Super Four Asia Cup match in Dubai on Thursday.

They will have home series against Australia and South Africa to solidify the team’s plans before the T20 World Cup kicks off in Australia on October 16. India’s only success at the T20 World Cup came in the inaugural tournament in 2007, when Gavaskar implored the team to “see areas where they can improve and fill those gaps”.

India remains at the top of the rankings with its T20 team, but the International Cricket Council’s most recent title came with the 2013 Champions League trophy, which has consistently languished in international tournaments. India failed to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates last year and lost in the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup in England in 2019.

But captain Rohit downplayed his side’s failure in the Asian Cup after Tuesday’s close loss to Sri Lanka.

“In tournaments like the World Cup, Asia Cup, here the challenge is you face different teams with different plans, But we should not think about it too much. Yes, pressure is there, and our work is to make the boys realise how to deliver in pressure situations.”

said Rohit

Former coach Ravi Shastri criticised the team’s decision and remained embarrassed by the elimination of veteran pace bowler Mohammed Shammi.

ALSO READ: PAK vs AFG: The heated after-match exchange

“I am completely amazed to see how Mohammed Shami has been sidelined by the current Indian team management and the selectors. The Indian bowling hasn’t looked that effective in this year’s Asia Cup, And a veteran like Shami should have certainly made it to the squad”

Shastri said on Star Sports

Injuries to pacemakers Jasprit Bhamra and Hershal Patel have turned India to Avesh Khan. Khan fell ill in Dubai and was not selected in his last two games.