"We Don't Have Enough Quality": India Great's Brutal Verdict After 2nd T20I Loss To West Indies

India lost to West Indies by 6 wickets in second T20I in Ranchi.© NDTV Library

Shai Hope anchored West Indies' record chase as the side beat India by six wickets in the second T20I of the five-match series in Ranchi on Friday. The Windies chased down their highest successful target in T20Is. Batting first, India posted 249/5, and West Indies replied with 252/4 in 18.3 overs. Hope scored an unbeaten 102 off 45 balls. Mayank Yadav reduced the visitors to 5/2 in the very first over, but Hope's fighting knock, aided by Sherfane Rutherford's brilliance (84 off 37), made a mockery of India's total despite the poor start.

While it was a belter of a track on offer in Ranchi, there was also no doubt that India bowled poorly. Highlighting the issue, former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin said the Iyer-led side does not have "enough quality" in the bowling department. He added that India need to invest more in developing "high-quality" bowlers.

India's ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the series against West Indies, and his absence is clearly being felt.

"It's not that I'm blaming the bowlers, but we don't have enough quality in our bowling, and we haven't placed enough emphasis on developing it. That is why the chances of producing high-quality bowlers remain quite low. I really hope we spend some time grooming high-quality bowlers because bowling in such conditions requires understanding and game awareness. I felt that was lacking a little today," the former India all-rounder said on Ash ki Baat.

Ashwin also praised Bumrah, who has been a crucial member of India's squads across formats.

"Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav were both fortunate in a way because, as captains, they had a cheat code in the form of Jasprit Bumrah. He can bowl defensively when required, and he also has a good variety of slower deliveries. But not many bowlers are that gifted, and I am genuinely worried about the future of Indian bowling," Ashwin said.

India and West Indies will play the third T20I at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.

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