In yet another disheartening blow to their 2023 World Cup campaign, England faced a daunting defeat, this time at the hands of India by a significant margin of 100 runs. The loss has cast a dark shadow over England’s prospects in the tournament, leaving them with little room for optimism. However, the harshest criticism came from Ravi Shastri, who unleashed a scathing assessment on air.
England’s performance against India could have been more satisfactory. In their pursuit of 229 runs, they found themselves in dire straits, crumbling to a dismal 98/8 before eventually succumbing at 129. The defeat has raised questions about the team’s mental fortitude and overall preparedness.
Ravi Shastri, known for his straightforward and unfiltered commentary, didn’t mince words. He took the critique of the English cricket team to an entirely new level by challenging their status as the reigning World Champions. Shastri echoed the sentiments of the public backlash in the UK and urged England to take accountability for their performance.
England’s record at the 2023 World Cup is far from commendable. Apart from their lone victory against Bangladesh, all five defeats have been heavily one-sided. New Zealand thrashed them by 9 wickets in the tournament opener, Afghanistan stunned them by 69 runs, South Africa annihilated them by 229 runs, and Sri Lanka outplayed them by eight wickets. Such outcomes are hardly befitting for the reigning world champions.
Shastri, in alignment with the public sentiment, emphasized that England should be devastated by their performance, and so should their supporters. He highlighted that England’s losses have been swift and decisive, often concluding with several overs to spare.
“England should be devastated spectators, supporters. In the first match, which they lost, 17 overs were left in the game when New Zealand beat them. Against South Africa, they got all out in 20 overs. That game ended early. Then they were all out in 30 overs against Sri Lanka, where SL chased the target and finished the match in 25 overs. Today, they had lost 8 wickets inside 32 overs. You call yourselves World Champions? It means if they aren’t sad over their performance, who will?” Shastri said.
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Indian legend added, “If someone asks what is the difference between India and England, it is of 8 teams”.
Following their fourth consecutive defeat, England finds itself at the bottom of the points table, even below Bangladesh. Their net run rate paints a grim picture at -1.652. With matches remaining against Australia, the Netherlands, and Pakistan, England faces a daunting challenge. Winning these games is crucial, not just for pride but also for their qualification in the Champions Trophy.
The Champions Trophy 2025 is at stake for the top 8 teams in this World Cup. If England’s struggles persist, they could miss out on this significant tournament. Ravi Shastri underscored the gravity of the situation, stating that England will now have to play for pride. Falling to the bottom of the table would not only be a blow to their self-esteem but also a missed opportunity to participate in an ICC event as prestigious as the Champions Trophy.
“From here on, England will have to play for pride. The reason I am saying that is because right now, they are at the bottom of the points table. And in the Champions Trophy, which takes place in 2025, only the top 8 teams of the World Cup can qualify. So if England remain in the bottom two, imagine a team like them not playing an ICC tournament as big as the CT would be a huge blow,” added Shastri.
