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Virender Sehwag takes a dig at India team after defeat against Bangladesh

India's poor batting performance and inability hit the decisive blow

Virender Sehwag takes a dig at India team after defeat against Bangladesh PHOTO: AFP/FILE

After the defeat in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, the focus appears to be on rebuilding the team for a better showing at the ODI World Cup next year.

However, the road to achieving that goal has not gone well thus far after India led Bangladesh to take a 2-0 series lead on Wednesday. India's poor batting performance and inability hit the decisive blow contributed to their second consecutive series loss in Bangladesh as the diminutive Mehidy Hasan Miraz guided the hosts to a five-run victory in the second ODI.

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Miraz tortured the Indian bowlers en route to his first century as the Bangal tigers produced a spectacular comeback to reach 271-7. At 207 for seven, India's challenge appeared hopeless, but skipper Rohit Sharma's (51 not out off 28 balls) heroic attempt was in vain as he nearly brought his team home while batting with a fractured left webbing.

After the loss, former India opener Virender Sehwag gave a quirky take on India's recent form. "Our performance is falling faster than cryptocurrencies. Need to shake up - wake up," he wrote in a tweet.

 

Cryptos se bhi tez gir rahi hai apni performance yaar. Need to shake up - wake up.

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 7, 2022

Mustafizur did well to perfect the yorker under pressure after delivering several slow leg-breaks in the 48th over, which forced Mohammed Siraj to play out a maiden.

Mashrafe Mortaza and the company defeated MS Dhoni and company in Bangladesh's previous ODI series at home in 2015.

With the World Cup approaching in less than a year, the series setback requires India to reevaluate its strategy.

At 65 for four, India's run chase was in desperate circumstances until Shreyas Iyer (82) and Axar Patel (56), who scored 107 runs off 101 balls, got them back into the game.

After injuring his elbow while fielding during Bangladesh's innings, captain Rohit did not step out to open. Only after the seventh wicket fell did he decide to stroll into the middle, but he was quite in pain.