India all-rounder Hardik Pandya led the team in the second ODI against the West Indies last week. Ahead of the game, current skipper Rohit Sharma, alongside Virat Kohli was rested for the game. They were replaced by the likes of Sanju Samson and Axar Patel. However, the team lost the game badly. Batting first, the Men In Blue had a great start as they were 90/0 at one stage.
However, after the first wicket, the team kept losing wickets and was bowled out for 181 runs. In reply, the home team, West Indies lost four wickets for 91 runs. At this stage, the likes of Shai Hope and Keacy Carty took the team over the line with six wickets in hand. Since then, the Asian team has been criticized by the fans. They even called out the fact that the West Indies is ruled out of the ODI World Cup 2023.
To be honest, going 1-1 in the third game will be challenging: Hardik Pandya
Meanwhile, after the game, Pandya said that the team didn't bat well in the game. Apart from pointing a lot of things, he added that going 1-1 in the game would be a great challenge.
We didn't bat the way we were supposed to. The wicket was better than it was in the first game. Everyone barring Shubman hit fielders and got out. Disappointing but many things to learn. The way our openers batted, especially Ishan, struck it well and is good for India. Shardul got us back in with his bowling. Hope and Carty batted well and got them through. Body's fine. I have to bowl more overs and get my workload up for the World Cup. I'm a turtle right now not the rabbit and hoping everything goes right as the World Cup comes on. To be honest, you want to be going 1-1 to the third game as it'll be more challenging and exciting.
This has left to fans trolling Pandya.
3rd ODI harne ke baad bolenge. We didn't wanted to go to World Cup in overconfidence of winning. So it's important to loose prior to World Cup
— Abhay ✍ (@Abhay29121995) July 31, 2023
Nothing from him surprises me anymore after I've heard "I don't mind losing the finals to mahi bhai"
— Ritik (@R_itsss) July 31, 2023
Post Virat and Rohit , Indian Cricket Team is Finished , we gonna be the Next West Indies / Sri Lanka
— Dhrumil Modi (@DModi24) July 31, 2023
Jaan bhujke haara hoga fir to ye chutya
— Aᴘᴜʀᴠᴀ 🎸 (@rkv_slays) July 31, 2023
Iss ghade ko T20 ka permanent captain banaya hai 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
— Anshul (@MufaddalThoda) July 31, 2023
Ye admi chutiya gaya h sach bolu toh
— @kartik (@kartik20031) July 31, 2023
Chapri landya
— Vedant Joshi (@vjoshi_22) July 31, 2023
He's just another overhyped captain from IPL quota. Just another clueless captain....team is doomed with them.
— Vishal Singh (@imvishalsingh02) July 31, 2023