‘The team couldn’t perform due to internal issues’ – Rashid Latif on India’s problems in ICC tournaments

Rasid Latif and Team India (Photo Source: Twitter)

Since winning the 2013 Champions Trophy, Team India has struggled in International Cricket Council (ICC) competitions. India lost in the semi-finals of the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups, as well as in the 2014 T20 World Cup and 2017 Champions Trophy finals. India also suffered a defeat against England in the T20 World Cup semi-final in 2022 and endured a crushing defeat to Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June 2023.

India are hoping to end their title drought in the ICC major events, heading to the much-awaited Cricket World Cup at home in October-November. Ahead of the showpiece event, Rashid Latif, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter, opened up about team India’s problems in the ICC tournaments. He also remarked that the team had dealt with “internal issues,” presumably, and also referred to Virat Kohli‘s sacking as captain.

“Virat Kohli had a direction and he wanted to win, but he was sacked. The team couldn’t perform due to internal issues. They couldn’t perform in ICC tournaments because, maybe, the captain didn’t get the desired players. Or maybe he got, but they weren’t used,” Latif said on his YouTube channel.

Their issue is top 3 isn’t performing how it used to – Latif

Prior to the ODI World Cup, Asia Cup 2023 will be contested in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Latif went on to say that Team India has a decent squad and pointed out that their top order will be their major concern.

“Now, there are two big events — Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the World Cup at home. Their team is still pretty good, they will get a no.4. The problem begins when the top-3 gets dismissed quickly. If the top-3 plays out the 25-30 overs, they will win easily. Their issue is the top-3 isn’t performing how it used to. They could’ve brought back Shikhar Dhawan, you had made him captain less than a year ago during a tour. You had players, you threw them here and there,” the 54-year-old added.