T20 World Cup 2021: Kapil Dev unhappy with Virat Kohli's statement post New Zealand defeat

Virat Kohli stated that the Indian team was not brave enough as it lost to New Zealand in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup. The statement has not impressed Kapil Dev and has asked MS Dhoni and Ravi Shastri to lift team morale.

The Indian team is down and low after suffering consecutive twin losses in the Super 12 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. After losing to arch-rival Pakistan in the opening game, it has failed to New Zealand next, thus denting its chances of qualification for the semis. At this point, India looks more or less out of the tournament.

Following the defeat, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said that the team was not brave enough to perform a brutal performance against the Kiwis. However, the statement has not impressed legendary former Indian skipper Kapil Dev, who has termed his view as 'weak'. He feels that Kohli and other big names should own up for the dismal show in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) so far.

Speaking to ABP News, Dev said that Kohli has a hunger and desire to win matches. But, his body language does not seem to be positive, which could lower the team's morale at this critical juncture. He added that it should be up to head coach Ravi Shastri and team mentor MS Dhoni to lift the team morale.

India can still make it to the semis, provided it wins its remaining three matches. However, even that might not be enough, as it would depend on other results, while its poor net run rate could add more agony to its chances. Speaking on the same, Dev was against relying on different outcomes and always wants teams to qualify based on their merit.

He also warned that the dark show would prompt the national selectors to look at some of the big names and analyse whether bringing in some promising youngsters would help the cause. He further informed that if top players fail to get on the run sheet, they would be bound to be criticised, which is not easy to deal with.