West Indies fast-bowling legend Sir Andy Roberts has slammed the Indian men's cricket team after their 209-run defeat to Australia in the 2023 World Test Championship Final at The Oval, saying that arrogance has sneaked into the national set-up.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"There is this arrogance which has crept into Indian cricket and through this, India have underestimated the rest of the world. India must decide what their focus is-Test cricket or limited overs cricket. T20 cricket will run its course. There is no contest between bat and ball there," Roberts was quoted as saying by mid-day on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Roberts, the spearhead of West Indies' fiery bowling line-up in the 1970s and 1980s, pointed out that India have some very good players, but they have not put in worthwhile performances away from home.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I expected India to show their batting strength. I saw no bright spot in the final although Ajinkya Rahane fought hard; got hit on his hand. Shubman Gill looks good when he plays those shots, but he stands on leg stump and is often dismissed bowled or caught behind."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"He has good hands, but he must get behind the ball. Virat Kohli, though, got a brute of a delivery from Mitchell Starc in the first innings. India have some very good players mind you, but they have not performed creditably away from home," he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Roberts also expressed shock over India not playing top-ranked Test bowler and ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Dropping Ashwin was ridiculous. How can you not pick your best spinner? Unbelievable." He also felt one of India's four-man fast-bowling attack wasn't tall enough. "That would have made a difference in terms of bounce."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The WTC Final defeat also meant India's hopes of breaking their ten-year barren run of winning ICC trophies weren't broken. Roberts signed off by saying he never expected India to chase down 444 after starting day five at 164\/3. "I harboured no such hopes. I knew they would collapse. The batting in both innings was bad."<\/p>\r\n\r\n