ODI World Cup 2023: India’s Stats-Driven and Risk-Averse Cricket Worrisome, Says Simon Doull

Former New Zealand seamer says India’s inability to take risks in the crunch situation is a matter of concern.

Members of the Indian team congratulate Shardul Thakur for taking the wicket of Bangladesh’s Anamul Haque during the Asia Cup cricket match between Bangladesh and India in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Simon Doull didn’t mince his word while talking about India’s chances in the upcoming ODI World Cup. The former New Zealand seamer made a scathing attack on Indian batting saying they play “stats-driven cricket,” and hesitate to take risks.

• “Fearless cricket is their issue,” Simon Doull told Sky Sports.
• “They don’t play fearless cricket enough.
• “They play statistics driven cricket and they are too worried about their stats too often. And to me that is the one area I am concerned about their batting side,” he said.
• Doull said that India’s inability to play fearless cricket in the crunch situation has let them down in the recent ICC events.
• “They have got all the talent and some of the best players if not the best players in the world.
• “But it is about playing the fearless cricket at the right time of the tournament and I think that is what had really let them down in the last few World Cups.
• “They don’t go out there and take risks because they are so worried about what might be said or what might be printed or what might someone ask them about their place in the team. That’s the one area I am concerned with.”

• First published on: 16-09-2023 at 09:14 IST