India face heat for 'chopping and changing' after Asia Cup failure

Rohit Sharma's India have been slammed for "chopping and changing" as they failed to make the final of the Asia Cup Twenty20 tournament with a game to go. Pakistan's win over Afghanistan on Wednesday knocked out India from the tournament, which was a warm-up for next month's T20 World Cup. India, who won the previous Asia Cup in 2018 played in a 50-over format, came in as pre-tournament favourites but lost their first two Super Four matches to Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Read AlsoAsia Cup 2022: India out of contention for final even before last match against Afghanistan

India were on Wednesday knocked out of contention for the Asia Cup final after Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by one wicket in a tense 'Super 4' match in Sharjah. Winless in two matches, both India and Afghanistan are out of the tournament and Thursday's match between the two sides here has been

"I think there was too much chopping and changing done after just one defeat," former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel told website cricbuzz. "We lost against Pakistan and made three-four changes." India's tinkering was not confined to the latter stages: Dinesh Karthik had been wicketkeeper for India's opening win against Pakistan, but Rishabh Pant was brought back behind the stumps for the next match. Karthik, a hard-hitting batsman who specialises as a finisher in the short format, missed both Super Four matches as the left-handed Pant was retained in the middle-order.

Read AlsoAsia Cup 2022: Five flaws plaguing Team India

TOI highlights the areas which are letting the Men In Blue down in the Asia Cup...

"The consistency and the clarity of thought is so important, especially when you play this T20 format," said Patel. "Dinesh Karthik came in and he was left (out).