You Don't Expect An International Team Like India To Lack Energy: Zaheer Khan

Former Indian seamer Zaheer Khan was amongst the cricketers who was not impressed with India’s display on the field against Australia in the first ODI in Sydney. For the first time in nine months, India played international cricket and looked rusty as ever. Australia took complete advantage of that and hammered 374 in the opening game of the summer. Zaheer Khan commented that a national team should not be performing in such a manner.

Australia, who won the toss and chose to bat in Sydney, started slowly but took plenty of risks by running quick singles. While India missed quite a lot of run-outs that were close shaves, but they also misjudged catches and the ground fielding was substandard. It allowed the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith to accelerate in a manner that they seemed unstoppable. With the help of centuries from Finch and Smith, the hosts raised a formidable total.

Zaheer Khan feels that there should not be any excuses for India’s poor bowling for the game being the first one. The former left-arm seamer underlined that players have played in IPL and in touch with regular practice sessions. Zaheer highlighted that even the issue of over-rate, which is controllable, should not be justified.

“First game you would say, the bowling attack looked rusty. But I don’t think that should be an excuse. Look at how things have been progressing if you look at all the players, being part of IPL, being in touch with regular practice. None of the excuses are acceptable at this stage and over-rate is something which in your hands,” Zaheer Khan told Cricbuzz.

And that was very poor and the overall energy on the field: Zaheer Khan

The 42-year old further said that the urgency and energy which was required on the field lacked and Australia benefitted from it. He lauded the hosts for running well between the wickets, being proactive and showing the urgency. He pointed out that as compared to Australia, the visitors looked off-colour, jaded, and that a national team should play better than this.

“And that was very poor and the overall energy on the field, and the urgency which is required was lacking and Aussies actually took complete advantage of that. And when you saw that opening partnership building, urgency in running, proactive, strike rotation which was spot on. On the other hand, Indians, all the eleven looked off-touch, off-colour and you don’t expect a national team to be like this on the field,” he added.

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