BCCI defends Indian team

A day after India bowed out of the 2015 cricket World Cup losing the semi-finals, criticism continued to flow in even as BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya defended the team’s performance by saying the defending champions “played some outstanding cricket” Down Under before failing against Australia. Former fast bowler Javagal Srinath said that although the Indian pacers bowled brilliantly during the entire tournament, they didn’t use the short ball judiciously against Australia. “They have been largely impressive in this World Cup. Unlike their Australian counterparts, they didn’t use the short-ball judiciously,” Srinath wrote in a column for ICC on Friday.

“I congratulate the entire Indian cricket team for having played some outstanding cricket in the World Cup 2015. They have indeed displayed some skills while playing the game in its true spirit, and thereby, bringing joy to millions,” Dalmiya said. “In spite of the disappointment due to the loss in the semi-final, the fact that the impending generation has showed the desired potential to take Indian cricket to greater heights is quite gratifying.”