WI vs IND | 3 Reasons Why India Lost 2nd ODI in Barbados

image-lkoybu2iWest Indies handed India a six-wicket defeat in the 2nd ODI [AP]

After securing a thumping five-wicket win in the first game, India succumbed to a crushing defeat in the second ODI of the three-match series against West Indies on Saturday. Batting first, India were bowled out for a paltry 181, which the hosts chased in 36.4 overs without breaking a sweat. Several reasons were responsible for India's horrendous defeat in this match, as mentioned below. 


Why India Lost 2nd ODI vs West Indies? 

Vulnerable middle order

image-lkoy6eprSenior players let the team down [AP]

The Indian middle-order was exposed in the first game too, as they lost five wickets while chasing a meagre 115. But as the target was very small, Ishan Kishan's flamboyant fifty somehow helped them cross the finish line. 

However, when it came to setting a target in the second ODI, the Indian middle-order lacked the art of innings-building, a trait found almost non-existent among the current lot.

They failed to find the ideal tempo for an ODI game and had no answers to the hosts' disciplined bowling effort. Instead of taking time and trying to bat till the end, the likes of Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja threw their wickets away, resulting in India's sub-par total. 


Unnecessary experimentations

image-lkoy98bsAxar Patel's promotion didn't make any sense [AP]

Besides resting Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the Indian management took some atrocious calls, including promoting Axar Patel to number four right after the openers got out. 

One can argue that Axar, being a left-handed batter, replaced Ishan Kishan, the second Indian to be dismissed. 

However, if their motive was to ensure a left-right pair in the middle, they could've promoted Ravindra Jadeja, a more equipped batter than Patel for such situations. The move destabilised the Indian batting lineup, which eventually collapsed within 41 overs. 


Toothless new ball pair

image-lkoy3m3oHardik Pandya had an ordinary day with bat and ball [AP]

The absence of the frontline seamers, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, has certainly thrown light on the lack of quality bowling reserves in the Indian ODI setup. 

While Romario Shepherd and Alzarri Joseph made it difficult to breathe for the Indian batters, their counterparts, Hardik Pandya, Umran Malik and Mukesh Kumar, were ineffective on a challenging batting track with uneven bounce. 

The primary reason behind it was the lack of hit-the-deck bowling, as the Indian bowlers didn't pitch the ball enough around the full-good length area from where the ball was kicking off.