"We don't take 10 wickets" - Aakash Chopra accuses Rohit Sharma and Co. of complacency after ODI series loss vs Sri Lanka

Renowned commentator Aakash Chopra made shocking remarks on the Indian bowling attack after the series loss against Sri Lanka in the three-match ODI series. Aakash Chopra said that there was a sense of complacency among the Indian bowlers throughout the series despite bowling-friendly conditions.

The Men in Blue suffered a heavy 110-run defeat in the third and final match at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, August 7. Following the loss, the Indian team faced a humiliating 0-2 series defeat. Notably, Team India faced their first bilateral ODI series loss to Sri Lanka in the last 27 years.

We Weren't Able To Close Out The Innings - Aakash Chopra

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra criticized India's bowling in the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka. Chopra said that the Indian bowlers conceded extra runs to Sri Lanka's lower-order batters. He added that ruthlessness was missing in India's approach.

The cricketer-turned-commentator said that spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel could have dominated the Sri Lankan batters in the spin-friendly conditions. Chopra added that the Indian spinners failed to meet expectations. He pointed out that India failed to bowl out Sri Lanka in any of the matches.

"In bowling, the start is fine. After that, the wickets fall. This was the pattern that was happening with us. We were bowling first. We were doing it every time. But after that, we couldn't close the innings even once. Many times it seemed that now we will all-out them. 160, 170, the team will handle it.

"But then sometimes 230, sometimes 240, sometimes 248. Every time they were able to reach further. Of course, the last match was a little exceptional. The wicket doesn't fall for 35 overs. Only one falls. But after that, you make a comeback. But again, we don't take 10 wickets. Even once. I mean, you have played 3 matches.

"Play on such a pitch where it is turning. When batting is difficult, your batsmen are not able to bat. In all three you get all out. We lost 30 wickets. Out of which, I think we have given 28 to spinners. If there are turning pitches, then we hope that Kuldeep Yadav will run through the side.

"It didn't happen like that. There were a few slow pitches. So, it seemed that there was not that much zip. There is not that much effectiveness that we always expect from Kuldeep. You expect from Axar Patel that he will bag a 5-wicket haul. But we were not able to close in that as well."

"We weren't able to close out the innings with the ball. There seemed a sense of complacency that we would get the wickets anyway and if we don't get the wickets we will chase the runs anyway. The ruthlessness was missing," Chopra said.

We Play Spin Really Well On Flat Tracks - Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra said that Indian batters will outplay opponents and dominate against spin on flat wickets. Chopra mentioned that Indian bowlers are better suited to flat tracks. He added that the India team's batting becomes less effective, and the difference in bowling quality reduces on turning tracks.

"I think we outbat the opposition and play spin really well on flat wickets. Out bowlers also bowl better than theirs on such pitches. However, when the pitches begin to turn, our batting becomes ordinary and the gap in the quality of bowling is reduced. So this is a problem they need to address," Chopra stated in the same video.

Chopra highlighted that Riyan Parag was a positive for the team during the series. He stated that Parag bowled well in the T20I series during the same tour. Chopra added that head coach Gautam Gambhir is likely to invest in Riyan in both formats in the future, given his ability.

"Riyan Parag was a positive as he picked up three wickets with the ball. He did well in the T20 series too and under Gautam Gambhir's tenure it seems like this is one player he wants to invest in."

Riyan Parag made his ODI debut in the final match of the recent series. The youngster took three wickets for 54 runs in his nine overs. He scored 15 runs off 13 deliveries with the help of two boundaries. During the T20I series, he had taken 3 wickets at an average of 22.33 and an economy rate of 6.48.

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