Former Indian Test opener Sadagopan Ramesh criticised India’s batting performance in the team’s opening match of the T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Wednesday. After being put into bat, India was put under pressure from the get-go.

While Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dube were dismissed for golden ducks, Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh could not even reach double digits. Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan got off to starts but could not convert them to substantial scores. 

India was left tottering at 77-6 but Suryakumar Yadav was able to rescue his team as he played a magnificent knock of 84 runs off just 49 balls. Ramesh said it was purely overconfidence, which led to India’s downfall with the bat.

Sadagopan Ramesh said on his YouTube Channel, “India did not bat to their potential. But the bowlers righted the wrong of the batters. It was purely overconfidence that led to India’s disappointing batting. Even if you are a lion with the bat, you can’t expect the opponent to just surrender to you. To conquer, you have to put in some effort.”

“Despite boasting incredible talent, India have to put in the proper effort without overdoing anything. It’s important that India doesn’t underestimate any team. If at all India slip in this World Cup, that will be the reason. But it’s good that they received a wake-up call in the very first game. India will be careful from now on, as we saw already with the ball.”

Ramesh added that India would have been finished if Suryakumar Yadav had not performed for the team.

“India have intimidated so many sides recently in T20Is. But today the tables turned on them, and they were made to sweat. India would have been finished if Suryakumar Yadav did not perform. India got to 160 only because of his slow start and rapid acceleration at the end. If the USA took that catch off Surya, 160 would have been a distant dream,” said Ramesh (via the aforementioned source).

India will next take on Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on February 12.