IND vs ENG, ODI World Cup 2023: England have been below average in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 as they remain at the bottom of the points table with just one win under their belt.
The defending champions have failed to pick up the momentum and have lost five of their six matches to stand on the brink of getting eliminated.
Jos Buttler-led side suffered yet another humiliating defeat in their last match against India as they were bowled out for just 129 runs while chasing the target of 230 runs.
Fans, former players, and experts blasted the England team for their horrible outing in the marquee tournament to which the former India coach Ravi Shastri added his version.
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Shastri criticised the English side for their performances in the tournament so far and clarified the difference between them and the undefeated Indian side.
"England should be devastated – spectators, supporters. Because the first match which they lost, 17 overs were left in the game when New Zealand beat them. Against South Africa, they got all out in 20 overs. That game ended early. Then they were all out in 30 overs against Sri Lanka, where SL chased the target and finished the match in 25 overs. Today, they had lost 8 wickets inside 32 overs. You call yourselves World Champions? It means if they aren't sad over their performance, who will?" Shastri said.
"If someone asks what is the difference between India and England, it is of 8 teams," he added.
Notably, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that the top seven teams in the ODI World Cup 2023 will qualify directly for the Champions Trophy 2025 along with the hosts Pakistan.
As England are having a forgettable campaign in the tournament, they are at risk of missing out on the qualification for the Champions Trophy, having been placed in the last place in the points table with three matches remaining.
"From here on, England will have to play for pride. The reason I am saying that is because right now they are at the bottom of the points table. And in the Champions Trophy which takes place in 2025, only the top 8 teams of the World Cup can qualify. So if England remain in the bottom two, imagine a team like them not playing an ICC tournament as big as the CT would be a huge blow," Shastri concluded.
England have an even more difficult road ahead they will be up against the five-time champions and in-form Australia in their next match in Ahmedabad on Saturday, November 4.
They will then face the Netherlands in Pune and Pakistan in Kolkata before wrapping up their campaign.