"Fear Of Failure": India Star's Verdict On Rohit Sharma And Co After Loss Against England

Veteran Indian cricket team wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik said that Rohit Sharma and Co lacked body language and pointed out 'fear of failure' as one of the main reasons behind the loss against England in the first Test match in Hyderabad on Sunday. India dominated major parts of the Test match but a brilliant knock from Ollie Pope and a seven-wicket haul from Tom Hartley clinched the game for the visitors. During the analysis of the match, Karthik said that there is a massive difference in culture between the two teams and it seemed like the Indian batters were not free in their minds to play shots.

“Today, for me, was a very revealing day as to how cultures differ. As we were growing up being Indians, somewhere, the fear of failure is ingrained in us. I genuinely wish all the fans understand why sometimes it can be hard for (Indian) top-order batters to be free in their minds to play shots that they want to play. They want to as well, but the fear of failure just pulls them back a little bit,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

Karthik also said that the Indian cricketers looked tired at the end of Day 3 with Pope playing a brilliant innings and they lacked the answers to turn the match in their favour.

“A lot of India who watched this Test match got the impression that at the end of Day 3, they were tired and lacked body language. Somewhere, they had been outplayed at different points in time, but India did not have answers to a lot of the questions that England have asked,” said Karthik.

“The intensity which is required sometimes to push on those tough days, yesterday (Day 3) because of what England came up with, I think India did not have answers. The after-effect of that is what we are seeing today,” Karthik added.