By Qaiser Mohammad Ali, IANS
Mumbai : Legendary spinner Bapu Nadkarni says fielding lapses, which he described as “criminal” and lack of consistency led to India’s defeat in the one-day international series against Australia last week.
“Only thing I can say is that the fielding lapses have cost us the series. When you don’t accept catches in a one-day international I would say it is criminal … absolutely … There is no other word to describe it,” Nadkarni, who holds the world record of maximum consecutive maiden overs in a Test match, told IANS in an interview here.
World one-day champions Australia defeated India 4-2 in the seven-match Future Cup series, with one match abandoned because of rain.
“If India’s fielding and batting had been more consistent, as Australia’s has been, the series would have been very exciting. But unfortunately that didn’t happen,” rued the 74-year-old former left-arm spinner, who was known for his unerring accuracy for long periods.
“Because we had a very strong batting side — and because we were playing on our home wickets, the advantage that Australians didn’t have… I was expecting a better performance in the series. But it was not up to my expectations,” he said.
Nadkarni, who played 41 Tests with distinction in the 1940s and 1950s, said he was “looking forward” to the action before the series began.
“After we came back from 0-2 (and won the fourth ODI in Chandigarh to make it 2-1), I thought something like England would happen again. And we were capable of that,” he said, referring to the series in England where India levelled 3-3 before losing the seventh match to go down 3-4 in August-September.
“The events have proved that we are not a good side, but that is a different issue. I still have confidence in our chaps and we have a very strong second line, so I’m not bothered about the future also. I will tell you very, very honestly that India’s cricket future is extremely bright, at least for seven-eight years to come.”
But, Nadkarni said, the Indian team had to perform consistently.
“The boys are good, no doubt about that. But the point is that the consistency and maturity that they should show on occasions like these is not being shown.
“I don’t know what is wrong or where it is wrong because I am not closely connected with the team. But a lot of Indian cricket today is very good, ideal to fight any side both in Test cricket and one-dayers.”
Nadkarni disapproved of the unnecessarily on-field aggression that the Indians showed during the series.
“We are not cut out for that, to be honest. But we are trying to imitate, and when we try to imitate we sometimes become a laughing stock because it is not supported by performance,” he said.
“When these two things go together — aggression with performance — then it has some value. The best way is to let them do what they do; you do your job.”
The articulate Nadkarni, who was also a good batsman besides being a fabulous spinner, said he was surprised at India winning the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa last month.
“It is not a question of expecting. I was surprised when they won. But remember, in the game of cricket, or any game, winning a title is easy, but to keep it you need class,” he emphasised.
“The greatest example in all forms of cricket today is Australia. They are good and they have been consistently good. That’s why they are called the champions.”
Born in Nasik, Rameshchandra Gangaram Nadkarni represented his home state Maharashtra and the then Bombay before breaking into the Indian team for the Delhi Test against New Zealand in December 1955. He was one of the most accurate spinners ever, and bowled a world-record 23 consecutive maiden overs during his spell of 32-27-5-0 against England in Madras in 1964.
His two other outstanding performances came against Pakistan in 1960-61. In the Kanpur Test, he finished with figures of 32-24-23-0 and with 34-24-24-1 in Delhi. He returned his best bowling figures of six for 43 against New Zealand in Wellington in 1968. He also scored a century and seven half-centuries in Test cricket.