In a surprising turn of events during an Asia Cup match between India and Nepal, the Indian cricket team found themselves on the receiving end of criticism after dropping three catches within the first five overs. This lapse in fielding allowed Nepal’s batsmen to capitalize and score runs freely during the initial powerplay.
The first missed opportunity occurred in the sixth delivery of the first over when Shreyas Iyer, positioned at slip, dropped a straightforward chance to dismiss Nepal’s Kushal Bhurtel. The second incident featured Virat Kohli, who was stationed at cover-point but failed to hold onto a catch, offering Nepal’s Aasif Sheikh a reprieve. The third catch was missed by wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan during the fifth over of the match.
Commentator Ravi Shastri didn’t mince his words when expressing his disappointment with the Indian team’s fielding performance during the first powerplay. Shastri, clearly agitated, criticized the Men In Blue on-air, saying, “Sloppy from India, really! This is straightforward. Ample time. No excuse, though, from the keeper’s point of view. This is as straightforward as it can get.”
Despite the fielding lapses, Nepal, who had lost their tournament opener to Pakistan, managed to reach a total of 178-6 in 37.5 overs after being sent in to bat.
The ongoing 50-over tournament serves as a preparation for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India. However, inclement weather has played spoilsport, leading organizers to consider a venue change for future matches scheduled in Colombo.
India’s opening match against Pakistan was abandoned due to rain after just one innings. A win or a washout in the match against Nepal would qualify the Indian team for the Super Four stage.
At the time of the rain interruption, Dipendra Singh Airee was batting on 27, while Sompal Kami had scored 11 runs. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja had claimed three wickets earlier in the match, and Aasif Sheikh had made a valuable contribution with 58 runs.
The drop catches during the Nepal encounter served as a stark reminder of the importance of fielding excellence in international cricket and left the Indian team with room for improvement as they strive for success in the Asia Cup and beyond.
