'India May Drop The World Cup If..', Ex-Player Cautions Rohit Sharma & Co.

image-lmx1s9liIndia were sloppy on the field in 1st ODI vs AUS [AP]

Team India's preparations for the ICC World Cup 2023 are at their peak, having secured their eighth Asia Cup title and a recent victory over Australia in the first ODI match in Mohali. 

Despite the team's excellent form and performance by top players, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has highlighted a 'major flaw' in India's World Cup preparation, suggesting that failure to address it could jeopardise their chances. 

The Men in Blue seem to be a force to reckon with, thanks to their strong bowling contingent, which includes stars like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and the dynamic all-rounder Hardik Pandya. 

The batting lineup, featuring Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and the in-form Shubman Gill, is equally impressive. However, Kaif believes that India's fielding has been lacklustre, and he fears it could be a significant factor that costs them in the World Cup. 

Team India's struggles in fielding were evident during the Asia Cup 2023, but no one raised an eyebrow or voiced concerns since they went on to win the title. However, during the recent first ODI match against Australia in Mohali, India's poor fielding was on display once again. 

One of the big fielding blunders came from Shreyas Iyer when he let David Warner's catch slip through his fingers. It happened when Warner had just scored 14 runs off Shardul Thakur. He later notched up a half-century. The dropped catch might have been brushed aside due to the win, but Kaif didn't let it slide in his scorching X post. 

Here's what Mohammad Kaif wrote in his post: 

“Caution: India may drop the World Cup if they don’t catch well. Batting and bowling can win matches but so can catches.”

India still have two ODIs in the pipeline, along with two warmup matches, before the ICC World Cup 2023 gets underway, providing ample opportunity for fielding improvement. The second ODI clash between India and Australia is set for Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore, while the third and final ODI is slated for Rajkot on September 27.