Indian cricket team underestimate rest of world, knew they would collapse in WTC Final chase: Andy Roberts

Roberts claimed arrogance has crept in Indian cricket before adding that India will have to make a choice for themselves. He slammed T20 cricket and suggested India should focus on the longest format of the game.

“There is this arrogance which has crept into Indian cricket and through this, India have underestimated the rest of the world. India must decide what their focus is—Test cricket or limited overs cricket. T20 cricket will run its course. There is no contest between bat and ball there,” Roberts, 72, told mid-day from Antigua on Tuesday.

Roberts admitted that he expected a better batting display from India in the WTC Final 2023. However, their first innings show confirmed to him that the team would collapse during the 444-run chase in the fourth innings.

The Antiguan asserted India have a tremendous talent pool but their batter have failed in away conditions. Roberts pointed out Shumban Gill’s weakness as well.

“I expected India to show their batting strength. I saw no bright spot in the final although Ajinkya Rahane fought hard; got hit on his hand. Shubman Gill looks good when he plays those shots, but he stands on leg stump and is often dismissed bowled or caught behind. He has good hands, but he must get behind the ball. Virat Kohli, though, got a brute of a delivery from Mitchell Starc in the first innings. India have some very good players mind you, but they have not performed creditably away from home,” said Roberts to mid-day.

“I harboured no such hopes. I knew they would collapse. The batting in both innings was bad,” he said after being asked if he thought India would gun down the target.

Andy Roberts, who picked 202 wickets in 47 Test matches, like many, expressed surprise at the omission of Ravichandran Ashwin from the playing eleven of India’s WTC final. He also reckoned that a lanky pacer would have helped India in extracting extra bounce from The Oval pitch.

“Dropping Ashwin was ridiculous. How can you not pick your best spinner? Unbelievable. The think-tank’s decision to pick four quick bowlers (Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur) appeared fine to him except the fact that not one of those four is very tall. “That would have made a difference in terms of bounce,” said Roberts.

India’s all-format tour of the West Indies starts from July 12 with the first Test. Roberts refrained from making any prediction, but warned that rain would affect a few games.