The Indian team’s bowling has always been its weakest link, particularly in limited-overs formats, and it has frequently been the batting that has won team games against strong teams and, on occasion, against minnows. Indian bowling technique has been appreciated by many players across the world.
India, which was playing its first ODI against Nepal, had them by the sword at one point during the recent Asia Cup 2023 encounter. After India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bowl first, Nepal was anticipated to go out quickly.
Aasif Sheikh scored 58 runs, Gulsan Jha scored 23, and Dipendra Singh Airee scored 29, but Nepal was in trouble at 194/7. Then Sompal Kami smashed 48 runs in 56 balls to help Nepal score 230 runs in 48.2 overs. Despite three wickets each from Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja, Indian bowlers were unable to finish off a minnow-like Nepal. Here are three similar situations in which the Indian bowling unit struggled against a minnow team and even lost.
Weak Indian bowling Instances:
3. India vs. Hong Kong, Asia Cup 2018:
The game was part of the Asia Cup 2018, which was held in Dubai. The match was viewed as a David vs. Goliath match because India had annihilated Pakistan in their group and was on a roll. Hong Kong captain Anshuman Rath asked India to bat first, and the Men in Blue produced 285/7, with Shikhar Dhawan smashing 127 runs. Ambati Rayudu scored 60 points, while Dinesh Karthik (33) and Kedar Jadhav (27*) also contributed.
Many expected the Indian team’s seasoned bowling lineup to steamroll the Hong Kong batsmen. But what occurred next took everyone by surprise. Nizakat Khan and Anshuman Rath of Hong Kong led the attack against Indian bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, and the two spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, respectively.
Nizakat Khan scored 92 runs and Rath scored 73 runs as the two amassed 174 runs for the first wicket in 34 overs, and many predicted an upset. However, the two batters fell within one over of each other, and the Indian bowlers held Hong Kong to 259/8, narrowly winning by 26 runs. The Indian bowlers completely failed when they took the opposition’s batting lightly on a batter-friendly track.
2. India vs Zimbabwe, Tri-series, 2010:
This match was between Zimbabwe and India from the 2010 Tri-series, which also included Sri Lanka. On May 28, 2010, the first match of the series was played in Bulawayo.
Suresh Raina led India to victory at the toss and elected to bat first. India had lost three early wickets, including Virat Kohli, who was run out without facing a ball. Then, as India posted 285/5 in 50 overs, Rohit Sharma batted 114 with four sixes and six fours while Ravindra Jadeja added 61 runs.
With bowlers like Vinay Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, and others on the team, it was thought that 285 would be a good total that could be easily defended against Zimbabwe. However, opener Brendon Taylor had other plans, scoring 81 runs and receiving backing from fellow opener Hamilton Masakadza, who scored 46 and totalled 88 runs for the opening wicket.
Craig Ervine then scored 67, and with 32 from Charles Coventry and contributions from Greg Lamb (27) and Elton Chigumbura (24*), Zimbabwe triumphed with 10 balls to spare and six wickets in hand. The Indian squad had a forgettable series, winning only one game against Sri Lanka before losing to Zimbabwe again later in the series and failing to qualify for the final.
1. Bangladesh vs. India, 2nd ODI, Mirpur, 2022:
India had won the first ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh and was hoping for a series win in the country after losing a 50-over series to the Tigers in 2015. Litton Das, Bangladesh’s captain, won the toss and opted to bat first, a choice he later regretted as Mohammed Siraj and Umran Malik, along with Washington Sundar, soon reduced them to 69/6 at one point.
India had intended to keep them under 100 runs and cruise to victory, but Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahmudullah combined for 148 runs for the 7th wicket. Mahmudullah was out for 77 runs, but Mehidy continued to pound the Indian bowlers as runs began to trickle in.
In response, despite Shreyas Iyer’s 82 and Axar Patel’s 56, India lost wickets at frequent intervals as India needed 61 runs from the final six overs when skipper Rohit Sharma walked in with a broken thumb. He then smashed 51* in 28 balls with 5 sixes and 3 fours, but India only managed 266/9 and lost by 5 runs.
So, this was all about the times when Indian bowling went weak. Also read, Video: A fan finger painted cricketer Rohit Sharma.
