Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has shared his disappointment at the lack of intent shown by the West Indies batters in the ongoing second Test against India at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain. He stated how the hosts failed to maintain a decent run rate on Day 3. Karthik also said that West Indies needed to show a more positive approach, considering that it is a must-win game for them to save the two-match Test series as well.
He said while speaking to Cricbuzz. Karthik said: “What were they thinking? India played close to 128 overs to get their score at a run rate of 3.50. West Indies, on the other hand, lost the first game, and it is a two-match series. If they want to make an impact in this Test series, the only chance for them to do is by levelling the series. But they had a run rate of 2.00 and 2.10. What were they thinking? That is what disappointed me the most about the day.”
Dinesh Karthik also opined that West Indies seem to be playing for a draw in the ongoing Test. He also stated that he was surprised to see they are not trying to win the Test match.
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“Have you started out this Test match thinking that you just want to draw it? And even if that is the result that you want and you’re after, how does it make a difference?, he shared. “India are already 1-0 ahead in the series. No batter showed intent, no batter showed aggression, and I am not saying reckless batting here. But if you are telling me on a placid pitch where there is nothing happening for the Indian bowlers and whatever little is happening from the rough and there are three medium pacers bowling and just two spinners bowling and you can’t score at 3.00 or 3.50 runs per over, what is the point? What are you trying to achieve in this Test match?”
However, West Indies have played at a poor run rate of 2.12 so far. They finished at 229/5 at stumps on Day 3 and trail India by 209 runs as well. Dinesh Karthik further added that Team India could bat slowly, considering their unassailable 1-0 lead as well.
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“You have won the toss, chosen to bowl, had four medium pacers, I can understand. But then you also know India have got two spinners who are going to trouble you a lot on the fourth day. If India bat slowly, I can understand. They are 1-0 up in the series, so if they draw it, more than enough. But they have batted at a very healthy run rate. You have come out batting and you haven’t shown the intent required to win a Test match. That has disappointed me a bit. I think Kraigg Brathwaite definitely needs to sit down with his team and figure out what is the right way moving forward,” Dinesh Karthik concluded.
