What A Shame: Virender Sehwag And Gautam Gambhir Come Up With Contrasting Reactions To West Indies' Loss Against Scotland

Published - 02 Jul 2023, 01:11 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM

West Indies [PC: AP]

Continuing their downward journey in international cricket, West Indies cricket, on Saturday (July 1), perhaps hit the rock bottom as they suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Scotland in the ongoing ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2023.

The catastrophic defeat has ruled them out of the race for a spot in the ICC World Cup 2023, scheduled to be played in India later this year. West Indies’ chances of progressing ahead of the Super Six stage was hanging by a thread after they suffered losses against Zimbabwe and the Netherlands in the group stage.

They needed to win the game against Scotland to stay in contention for the semifinal spot. However, the Shai Hope-led side failed to come up with a winning performance as the West Indies suffered their first-ever ODI loss against Scotland. It was also their third straight defeat in the ongoing competition.

Asked to bat first, the two-time World Cup winners were all out for just 181 runs inside 44 overs. Brandon McMullen starred with the ball, taking 3 wickets. McMullen then starred with the bat too, scoring 69 while Matthew Cross scored 74 not out as Scotland registered a thumping 7-wicket win.

Cricket world reacts to West Indies’ loss:

The loss means West Indies will not be playing in the ODI World Cup for the first time in its history. West Indies won the first two editions of the competitions in 1975 and 1979 and will not be playing the World Cup for the first time in 48 years.

The development has sent shockwaves across the cricketing world. Not only the fans but experts have also expressed their disappointment over West Indies’ dark moment. And former India openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag did not shy away from expressing their disappointment either. Both of them took to Twitter to react to the loss.

“What a shame. West Indies fail to qualify for the World cup. Just shows talent alone isn’t enough, need focus and good man management, free from politics. The only solace is there isn’t further low to sink from here,” tweeted Sehwag.

Gambhir, on the other hand, was not too brutal in his reaction as he opined that the West Indies can still become the best team in the world, writing: “I love West Indies. I love West Indian cricket. I still believe they can be the No.1 team in world cricket.”

What a shame. West Indies fail to qualify for the World cup. Just shows talent alone isn’t enough, need focus and good man management, free from politics. The only solace is there isn’t further low to sink from here. pic.twitter.com/dAcs3uufNM

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 1, 2023

I love West Indies
I love West Indian cricket
I still believe they can be the No.1 team in world cricket!

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) July 1, 2023