Venkatesh Prasad slams Hardik Pandya after T20I series defeat in West Indies

Team India concluded their West Indies tour with a T20I series defeat, ending their unbeaten 12-series streak. Former India cricketer and ex-India coach, Venkatesh Prasad has called for serious introspection as head coach Rahul Dravid's side looked ordinary in limited-overs cricket.

While India dominated in the longer formats against West Indies, they faced a tough challenge in the T20Is, the format where the Men in Maroon historically perform well. The Men In Blue trailed in the five-match T20I series 0-2 but did well to come back strongly to level 2-all by winning the third and fourth games.

Venkatesh Prasad calls for introspection in Indian Cricket

The Hardik Pandya-led side - who had never lost a five-match T20I series against the West Indies - became the first team to lose a bilateral series against the West Indies in 17 years. The skipper took the responsibility for defeat in the fifth and deciding game as his slow batting resulted in not enough runs being posted on the board.

The team management has been given a reality check with this series defeat and sent a message that a lot needs to be done before they arrive on these shores next year for the T20 World Cup 2024 in West Indies and the USA. India vs West Indies: Hardik Pandya Feels His Slow Approach After 10 Overs Cost The Team

Terming their performance very ordinary in the series, Prasad criticised India and urged them to introspect instead of making silly statements. He also pointed out how West Indies failed to qualify for major tournaments. The former India quick wasn't pleased with captain Hardik Pandya's casual statements during the post-match presentation after the series defeat. IND vs WI: 'Team not mature enough without Kohli and Rohit' - 3 reason why India lost T20I series

Prasad posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, "India has been a very very ordinary limited overs side for some time now. They have been humbled by a West Indies side that failed to qualify for the T20 WC a few months back. We had also lost to Ban in the ODI series. Hope they introspect instead of making silly statements." Sanju Samson in Asia Cup 2023: Inconsistent performance might cost Kerala cricketer a place in Team India

Hunger is missing in Indian Cricket: Venkatesh Prasad

"Not just 50 overs, West Indies had failed to qualify for the T20 World Cup last Oct- Nov as well. It pains to see India perform poorly and brush it under the carpet, under the garb of process. That hunger, fire is missing and we live in an illusion," the former Karnataka cricketer wrote on X.

He further claimed that the Indian captain looked clueless at times and highlighted favouritism in player selection. He even emphasised improving the skillsets of the players.

"They are responsible for the debacle and need to be accountable. Process and such words are misused now. MS meant it, guys now just use the word. There is no consistency in selection, random stuff happening too much," he posted further.

India will next face Ireland in a three-match T20I series, starting later this week. Senior India pacer Jasprit Bumrah - who is making his international return after a long injury layoff - will be leading a second-string Indian side in the UK.