Irfan Pathan raises questions regarding Indian bowlers in the current ODI series vs Australia

India tasted defeat once again as Australia hammered them by 51 runs to win the 2nd ODI of the 3 match ODI series. The Australian batsmen-Finch, Warner, Smith, and Maxwell were pivotal to the success of their team’s victory against India once again. Kohli and team simply could not manage to restrict the Aussies to less than 350 in both the ODIS. With such dismal performances from the team, questions are being asked regarding every aspect of the side.

Several cricketing pundits and former cricketers were disappointed with the performance of the Indian team in this series. One amongst them is Irfan Pathan. One of India’s best bowlers, Pathan has picked 132 wickets in just 129 matches in his ODI career.

Pathan raises questions regarding the consistency of Indian bowlers

Pathan was unimpressed by Indian bowlers. He was also quite apprehensive regarding the consistency of Indian bowlers in the ODI series against Australia. Pathan feels that the bowlers failed to find the correct lengths and hence were battered by the Australian batsmen.

India has already lost the ODI series as they lost the first 2 matches itself. Although the whole team is accountable for such a performance, Pathan feels that the bowlers could do so much better. He believes that the Australian batsmen hammered India’s bowlers, to which the bowlers had no reply.

With just 10 wickets in 100 overs, India’s bowling performance has been nothing short of dismal. Although he believes that Shami and Bumrah bowled well, Pathan expected better from Navdeep Saini and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Saini was quite expensive against Australia, giving 83 runs in 10 overs in the first ODI. Chahal, who performed brilliantly for RCB, could not rise to the occasion in the international format. Chahal was smashed for 89 runs in 10 overs in the first ODI. This is the most runs that Chahal has ever conceded in an ODI.

Saini was also quite expensive against the Aussies in the second ODI, giving 70 in just 7 overs. Both Saini and Chahal have picked just 1 wicket in 2 matches for India. With doubts lingering over Saini and Chahal, left-arm bowler T Natarajan might play the final ODI against Australia. Natarajan was outstanding this season, picking up 16 wickets in 16 games. He also bowled the most yorkers in IPL 2020- an astonishing 21. With Natarajan likely to play, either Shami or Bumrah might get some rest. The final ODI is set to take the stage on Wednesday in Canberra.

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