• Source:JND
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Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad launched a fresh attack on the Hardik Pandya-led side after they lost the T20I series against West Indies. The vocal critic of the Indian team in recent times, the veteran cricketer issued a bold statement and called for improvement in the team's skillset.

West Indies defeated India by eight wickets in the fifth T20I to clinch the five-match series 3-2 in Florida on Monday. It was India's first-ever series loss in the five-match T20I series. West Indies have failed to qualify for the last T20 World Cup and also the upcoming ODI World Cup in India.

Prasad said India have played 'very ordinary' in the white-ball cricket in recent times. He advised the Indian team to introspect rather than silly statements.

“India has been a very very ordinary limited overs side for sometime now. They have been humbled by a West Indies side that failed to qualify for the T20 WC few months back. We had also lost to Ban in the ODI series. Hope they introspect instead of making silly statements,” Prasad wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"India needs to improve their skillset. Their is a hunger & intensity deficiency & often the captain looked clueless. Bowler’s can’t bat, batsmen can’t bowl. It’s important to not look for yes men and be blinded because someone is your favourite player but look at the larger good," he added.

After the T20I series loss, Pandya said 'losing is good at times' and backed the team's process.

"In hindsight, it is fine. We don't need to explain much. I know how the boys are within the group. We have enough time to figure out. Losing is good at times," Pandya said in the post-match presentation.

The 54-year-old further said the Indian team is missing the hunger t win and blamed them of living under an illusion.

"Not just 50 overs, West Indies had failed to qualify for the T20 World cup last Oct- Nov as well. It pains to see India perform poorly and brush it under the carpet, under the garb of process. That hunger, fire is missing and we live in an illusion,” Prasad said in response to a fan.

When asked about his views on T20I captain and team management, Prasad replied: "They are responsible for the debacle and need to be accountable. Process and such words are misused now. MS meant it, guys now just use the word. There is no consistency in selection, random stuff happening too much."

India won the third and fourth T20Is in the series and after going 0-2 down in the series but failed to come out triumphant in the series decider.