Engineer questions nature of Pune pitch, slams Indian batsmen. Image Source: twitter[/caption]Internet Desk: Former wicket-keeper batsman Farokh Engineer today questioned the nature of Pune pitch and criticized Indian batsmen for their poor shot selection after watching India’s humiliating loss at the hands of Australia in the first Test at Pune.
Virat Kohli’s Team India today faced a humiliating 333-run loss in just three days in the first Test against the Aussies after the hosts were all out for 107 in just 33.5 overs in their second innings after Australia posted a huge target of 441 runs.
"I am totally shocked. I watched every ball in this game, the first ball turns square, you don't prepare a test match wicket in this manner. You prepare a Test match wicket to last five days," Engineer, who played 46 Tests, told reporters here.
"Umesh (Yadav) and Australian quicks (pacers) got the wickets. As it so happened Australians won the toss and decided to bat. I think the whole thing misfired in our faces, we never expected.
"We were too complacent, our spinners are the best in the world, (Ravichandran) Ashwin, (Ravindra) Jadeja, they are fantastic bowlers. We missed so many chances. Looking at Australia's fielding, close-in fielding, I remembered of Eknath Solkar's days. They were not taking catches they were making catches, which put them in strong position," he said.
Engineer hoped that the team learns from its mistakes and "firstly never prepares a wicket like this one".
"Our first innings problem was when (KL) Rahul got out and he played a silly shot and that started the debacle. When you are set and you know that a fresh batsman will come, you do not play such a shot. I hope the captain has ticked him.
You just don't do that," he added.
"We were playing, (like) we are playing IPL. Good bowling. You have to give Australians credit, they outplayed us. It hurts me as an Indian. We were humiliated and this is not (what) we expected after great performances against England and New Zealand," he added.
With inputs from PTI.
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