Team India has been subjected to extreme criticism ever-since they misplaced in opposition to Australia within the World Test Championship remaining on Sunday at The Oval. The Rohit Sharma-led aspect was bundled out for 234 whereas chasing 444 after Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland broke the spine of India’s batting order. Many followers and consultants raised questions on the poor show of batting and bowling from Team India however former batter Mohammad Kaif identified that the group additionally must work on their slip fielding.

During Australia’s second innings, India misplaced a simple alternative of dismissing Alex Carey on 41 as a shot from the sting of the wicketkeeper’s bat, landed between Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara on the slip. However, each the gamers remained standing at their locations and didn’t make any try to take the catch.

“These issues have to be sorted out earlier than you are taking the sector. You cannot miss these probabilities. This is being lazy. In these moments, the fielder in all probability thinks there will not be catches coming to slips, and there is perhaps a declaration on the playing cards. But it was an important stage of the sport when India could not afford lapses,” Kaif told The India Express.

Kaif also threw light on the first innings, where Steve Smith had played a shot towards the slip and it landed few inches before Kohli.

“Converting half-chances can win you matches. Take a look at the half-chance that Steve Smith had offered in the first innings when the ball fell short of Kohli at slip. Australia were at 190, and if Smith had fallen then, who knows what might have happened,” mentioned Kaif.

“In England and Australia the place there may be bounce on provide, slips stand virtually 25 yards behind the stumps. In Asia, you stand nearer to the batter. So, somebody like Kohli should know the place he wants to face in order that he takes these probabilities. These are methods in which you’ll win video games in your group,” he added.

This was India’s second defeat in successive WTC finals after losing to New Zealand in 2021 in the inaugural edition.