Despite Money & Power: Venkatesh Prasad Slams India For Celebrating Mediocrity

[rollingstoned]

Despite Money & Power: Venkatesh Prasad Slams India For Celebrating Mediocrity

 

 

Known for his honest and no-nonsense opinions on the Indian cricket team, ex-Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad once again did not mince his words while coming down heavily on the Men in Blue after an embarrassing six-wicket defeat to the West Indies in the second ODI on Saturday (July 29) at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

 

The defeat has raised alarm bells among the Indian cricket fraternity about their preparation for the 2023 World Cup. With just two months left for the mega event, the Rohit-led team looks anything but settled and is finding it difficult to field some crucial spots in the team despite constant experimentation.

 

Venkatesh came down heavily on the team and pointed out India's recent failures in white-ball cricket, like their back-to-back poor T20 World Cup campaigns or recent ODI series defeats to South Africa, Australia, and Bangladesh.

 

"Test cricket aside, India has been very ordinary in the other two formats for quite sometime now. Lost odi series against ban, SA and Aus. Poor in the last two T20 World Cups. Neither are we an exciting team like England nor brutal like how the Aussies used to be," wrote Venkatesh on Twitter.

 

The former Indian speedster further hit out at the team for being one that celebrates mediocrity and questioned their approach and attitude.

 

"Despite the money and power, we have become used to celebrating mediocrity and are far from how champion sides are. Every team plays to win and so does India but their approach and attitude is also a factor for underperformance over a period of time," Venkatesh added.

 

 

India have not won an ICC trophy for 10 years since the 2013 Champions Trophy triumph. They will be looking to end the drought on home soil later this year as they prepare to host the 2023 World Cup.

[Suhaan]

1 hour ago, rollingstoned said:

 

India have not won an ICC trophy for 10 years since the 2013 Champions Trophy triumph. They will be looking to end the drought on home soil later this year as they prepare to host the 2023 World Cup.

[Gollum]

For our money, resources, fan following, cricket being a minor sport yada yada, we should dominate cricket the way the Chinese dominate TT. Anything less than that is mediocrity. 

 

I remember how in Tokyo Olympics, China failed to win a gold medal in one event and it became world news, and almost like a mourning day for Chinese sports. Just checked that China has won 32 out of 37 total gold medals on offer in the history of Olympics, then look at us, can't even confidently say that we will reach final of the Asia Cup, and we all know where our neighbors stand in the world of sports!!!! 

[LordPrabhzy]

3 hours ago, Gollum said:

For our money, resources, fan following, cricket being a minor sport yada yada, we should dominate cricket the way the Chinese dominate TT. Anything less than that is mediocrity. 

 

I remember how in Tokyo Olympics, China failed to win a gold medal in one event and it became world news, and almost like a mourning day for Chinese sports. Just checked that China has won 32 out of 37 total gold medals on offer in the history of Olympics, then look at us, can't even confidently say that we will reach final of the Asia Cup, and we all know where our neighbors stand in the world of sports!!!! 

 

there are posters like @putrevus who think we are doing fine in all formats...

[putrevus]

Why should we dominate  and on what basis it we should dominate?

 

Can BCCI buy talent from a store?

 

Why is losing one match to WI or a series to an odi series to Bangladesh end of the world.

 

 

Edited July 31, 2023 by putrevus

[Frustrated]

4 minutes ago, putrevus said:

Why should we dominate  and on what basis it we should dominate?

 

Can BCCI buy talent from a store?

 

Why is losing one match to WI or a series to an odi series to Bangladesh end of the world.

 

 

No.  He is not referring to this.   What he is referring to is the larger picture, that is:  Ind hv not won an ICC trophy since 2013.    No body cares if we lose one odd match to Windies or Zim or Scotland.  But being unable to win an icc trophy over a period of 10+ yrs with highly experienced players in the set up is something else.   It is termed "Naam Bade Darshan Chote" 

[putrevus]

11 minutes ago, Frustrated said:

No.  He is not referring to this.   What he is referring to is the larger picture, that is:  Ind hv not won an ICC trophy since 2013.    No body cares if we lose one odd match to Windies or Zim or Scotland.  But being unable to win an icc trophy over a period of 10+ yrs with highly experienced players in the set up is something else.   It is termed "Naam Bade Darshan Chote" 

So what India has not won a ICC trophy in a decade. India is consistently reaching knockouts in almost every tournament.They have topped the league stages in most tournaments.

 

They have won most overseas tests in their history and are unbeatable at home. People are taking these for granted.

 

 

These players have become timid as failures in knockouts have grown. Have we produced enough talented players to augument the like of Kohli and Sharma in last decade?

 

Yes trophies are important but you cannot keep blaming BCCI like idiots.What have they done wrong?

 

 In 1983 Kapil dev was sacked after losing test series to WI after winning world cup from nowhere and again in 1987 Kapil dev was sacked as a captain after a semifinal loss when he did not deserve it. Is that what we want to come back.

Edited July 31, 2023 by putrevus

[express bowling]

50 minutes ago, putrevus said:

 

Can BCCI buy talent from a store?

 

 

 

Kohli, Rohit, Rahul, Gill / Dhawan, Pant / Dhoni, Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav playing together .....  this does not look like high quality talent to you !!!!

 

This has been our squad for the last few years with Gill replacing Dhawan and Pant replacing Dhoni. 

Edited July 31, 2023 by express bowling

[putrevus]

4 minutes ago, express bowling said:

 

 

Kohli, Rohit, Rahul, Gill / Dhawan, Pant / Dhoni, Bumrah, Shami, Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav playing together .....  this does not look like high quality talent to you !!!!

 

This has been our squad for the last few years with Gill replacing Dhawan and Pant replacing Dhoni. 

So who do you suggest they should have played?? How are they better than player selected. 

 

Let us talk about each player?

 

We produced one legit great fast bowler in Bumrah , who has choked in every big spot, how is it selectors fault or BCCI's fault.

Edited July 31, 2023 by putrevus

[vvvslaxman]

1 minute ago, express bowling said:

 

 

Kohli, Rohit, Rahul, Gill / Dhawan, Pant / Dhoni, Bumrah, Shami, Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav playing together .....  this does not look like high quality talent to you !!!!

 

This has been our squad for the last few years with Gill replacing Dhawan and Pant replacing Dhoni. 

 

Under Kohli you can pack the side with the world's best players he is not going to win anything.  Rohit is another lazy bugger.

[rollingstoned]

28 minutes ago, putrevus said:

Can BCCI buy talent from a store?

 

No but when you keep repeating like a broken record again and again that there is no talent, you sound like someone who thinks talent grows on trees and can be purchased off shelves. It is not like Sharma, Dhawan, Kohli etc. just emerged on the scene fully developed and asking to be picked. The presence/availability of talent however does not mean that it cannot be mismanaged or that it does not need any nurturing. 

[putrevus]

Aussies have backed Warner even though he has not scored a 100 in England  in his career and he has played every test this summer.

 

Sometimes you sink or swim with your core players.

[putrevus]

1 minute ago, rollingstoned said:

No but when you keep repeating like a broken record again and again that there is no talent, you sound like someone who thinks talent grows on trees and can be purchased off shelves. It is not like Sharma, Dhawan, Kohli etc. just emerged on the scene fully developed and asking to be picked. The presence/availability of talent however does not mean that it cannot be mismanaged or that it does not need any nurturing. 

I also think talent needs to be there to be noursihed.I have not seen any can't miss talent which selectors have missed out.

 

[express bowling]

7 minutes ago, putrevus said:

So who do you suggest they should have played?? How are they better than player selected. 

 

Let us talk about each player?

 

We produced one legit great fast bowler in Bumrah , who has choked in every big spot, how is it selectors fault or BCCI's fault.

 

I am not suggesting playing other cricketers ... but changing the mindset of the same cricketers to " Winning at all costs " from the current " We are doing fine ".

 

Have the winning mindset and attitude of Kohli's test sides from 2015 to 2021 or Dhoni's LOI sides from 2007 to 2013. 

 

Everything is about what people want to achieve and what goals they set.

 

P.S .. I was replying to your statement " Can't buy talent from store ".  Lots of talent are there. Need to adopt mindsets of the eras I mentioned. 

[express bowling]

22 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

 

Under Kohli you can pack the side with the world's best players he is not going to win anything. 

 

Captain Kohli won in tests. Was poor in LOIs and IPL. 

 

Different formats.

 

22 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

 

Rohit is another lazy bugger.

 

And lacks objectivity as Indian captain.

Edited July 31, 2023 by express bowling

[vvvslaxman]

1 minute ago, express bowling said:

 

Captain Kohli won in tests. Was poor in LOIs and IPL. 

 

Two different formats.

 

 

And lacks objectivity as Indian captain.

 

Yea i was referring to LOIs with respect to Kohli. He never mastered the art of grabbing key moments of a match. Although IPL captaincy is not be all end all you can get a glimpse what is wrong with his LOI captaincy skills.  MSD even with mediocre teams won more tournaments because he could put together an unit with definitive roles and back them.  Shane watson has taken  a dig at RCB leadership in his book.

[putrevus]

2 minutes ago, express bowling said:

 

I am not suggesting playing other cricketers ... but changing the mindset of the same cricketers to " Winning at all costs " from the current " We are doing fine ".

 

Have the winning mindset and attitude of Kohli's test sides from 2015 to 2021 or Dhoni's LOI sides from 2007 to 2013. 

 

Everything is about what people want to achieve and what goals they set.

 

P.S .. I was replying to your statement " Can't buy talent from store ".  Lots of talent are there. Need to adopt mindsets of the eras I mentioned. 

 

I disagree on lot of talents. Players have so many aveneues to showcase their talents. A talented player cannot be ignored these days.

 

Heck even a guy like Ambati Rayudu who was out in wilderness  after playing ICL ended up playing for India.

 

In sports it does not always with greatest goals thing. You need talent plus some luck.Like Dhoni has in 2007 and 2013.

 

Aussies teams under Steve never won in India does it mean they were bad team which was not good enough to win that series.

 

I agree on mindset is something which can be changed that applies a lot for Dravid's regime.But IMO  it is not guaranteed a trophy.

 

 

[Suhaan]

Koolie should be spared otherwise I'll call everyone tailuntless

 

Few years ago some pros here were branding Pant as mediocre ,all they ended up with rotten eggs on their faces

He was about to find his feet in odis too,but the unfortunately met with a near fatal accident

Edited July 31, 2023 by Suhaan

[express bowling]

2 minutes ago, putrevus said:

 

I disagree on lot of talents. Players have so many aveneues to showcase their talents. A talented player cannot be ignored these days.

 

 

 

I just showcased in that earlier post a list of 11 talented cricketers we had at the same time in the last 8 years or so.

[wazza]

1 hour ago, putrevus said:

So who do you suggest they should have played?? How are they better than player selected. 

 

Let us talk about each player?

 

We produced one legit great fast bowler in Bumrah , who has choked in every big spot, how is it selectors fault or BCCI's fault.

Yes we should select mookesh kumar and unadkut. There is no talent at all in the reserves. 

 

We must always stick with tried and tested approach. Whatever players are available, we should never judge by their ability because pitches all over the world are homogeneous. What works in India always works in sena. 

We should always give great players of yesteryear more time to adapt. They only play over 80 games, they really need more time to adjust to pressure situations. 

Also we need to ensure yo yo test is scrapped so that our talented rohit and kl Rahul can pass such tests. No young player should be given a string of games to perform at all because our older stalwarts performed almost instantly when they first started. Kohli and rohit had almost instant impact. Their positions in the team were never questioned because of their natural talent which none of the youngsters posses. They will never be able to surpass an average of 27 which was maintained by the great stalwarts for the last 3 years. Rohits average of 30 away from home in aus and 30vs nz in wtc final and 16 vs south africa is simply insurmountable for our poor malnourished talents to attain. 

Edited July 31, 2023 by wazza