Pakistan’s victory over Afghanistan on Wednesday knocked India out of the tournament, which was a warm-up for next month’s T20 World Cup.
India, who won the previous Asian Cup in 2018 in an over 50 format, became favorites ahead of the tournament but lost their opening two Super Four matches to Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
“I think there were too many cuts and changes after just one loss,” former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel told website cricbuzz.
“We lost against Pakistan and made three-four changes.”
India’s tinkering was not limited to the latter stages: Dinesh Karthik had been the wicket-keeper for India’s first win against Pakistan, but Rishabh Pant was brought back behind the stumps for the next match.
Karthik, a hard-hitting batsman who specializes as a finisher in the short format, missed both Super Four games as southpaw Pant was retained in the middle order.
“Consistency and clarity of thought is so important, especially when you’re playing this T20 format,” Patel said.
“Dinesh Karthik came in and he was left (out). Rishabh Pant came in and would wonder if I am a permanent member of the squad or not.”
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has blamed an inability to be flexible with plans on the pitch for India’s disappointing results.
“Too much theory…is not a very good thing. What happens on the ground is completely different,” Gavaskar told India Today.
“You have to have plan A, B and C, that’s where the Indian team in this particular tournament didn’t have any alternative plans. They seem to have been stuck when things started going downhill for them. Cricket is a game that changes in seconds, especially the T20 format, and you have to be ready.”
India can start to put things right when they take on Afghanistan in an Asian Cup Super Four rubber death match in Dubai on Thursday.
They will have home series against Australia and South Africa to cement their squad plans ahead of the start of the T20 World Cup on October 16 in Australia.
India’s only T20 World Cup success came in the inaugural tournament in 2007, and Gavaskar implored the team to ‘see the areas where you can improve and fill those gaps’.
India remain top of the T20 team standings but have consistently faltered in global international tournaments with their last International Cricket Council title coming at the 2013 Champions Trophy.
India failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup last year in the United Arab Emirates and in 2019 lost in the semi-finals of the 50+ World Cup in England.
But captain Rohit played down his side’s Asian Cup failure after losing a close game to Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
“In tournaments like the World Cup, the Asian Cup, here the challenge is to play different teams with different plans,” Rohit said.
“But we shouldn’t think about it too much. Yes, the pressure is there, and our job is to make the boys understand how to deliver in pressure situations.”
Former coach Ravi Shastri criticized the team’s picks and remained puzzled by the dismissal of veteran bowler Mohammed Shami.
“I am completely amazed at how Mohammed Shami has been sidelined by the current Indian team management and coaches,” Shastri said on Star Sports.
Injuries to spearheads Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel prompted India to turn to Avesh Khan, who fell ill in Dubai and was unavailable for selection in the last two matches.
“Indian bowling didn’t look as effective in this year’s Asian Cup,” Shastri said.
“And a veteran like Shami definitely should have been in the team.”