Seniors or Juniors, Indians are chokers in the finals

One bad day in eight months: Prasad

February 20, 2006 18:20 IST


India coach Venkatesh Prasad called his side's 38-run loss to Pakistan in the ICC Under-19 World Cup final in Colombo on Sunday their "one bad day in eight months".

He said, despite the defeat, with India bowled out for just 71, he was still proud of the way his team had played throughout the tournament, which saw them lose just one match -- the final.

"We have done lots of hard work, we have been winning and winning becomes a habit, but this was our one bad day in the past eight months," said Prasad.

"That one off day happened to come in a final, but the boys have been simply superb.

"I am really happy with the way they have played, I am proud and I have been amazed at their approach, their commitment and the fact they are such keen learners."

But despite that praise, Prasad admitted India's batting had let them down badly and cost them the chance to win the World Cup for a second time to go with their previous success in 2000.

"Although the ball swung a bit there was no devil in the wicket, but I felt we just wanted to finish the game before the break.

"I thought our batting lacked application and I got the feeling the thought was 'if I do not get these runs then someone else will.' "

"I did say before we started our innings that the game was not over until we passed the 109 runs we needed but in the first session we lost six wickets and it has been a learning curve for the players today.

"They have learnt about how to handle pressure and how to handle the situation when things are on a downward curve."

Despite his disappointment, Prasad was happy to pay tribute to the Pakistan fast bowlers, who almost single-handedly won the game for their side.

"Pakistan played well," he said. "It is not easy to defend 109, but all credit to their bowlers.

"They could even afford to drop a couple of catches but the first three or four overs of our innings (when India slipped to 9-6) decided the game."

With the tournament over, Prasad suggested there is a possibility he could move away from the under-19 set-up.

"As a coach I have set myself higher targets," said the 36 year-old, who played 33 Tests and 161 ODIs for his country.

"I have already spoken to the Board (of Control for Cricket in India) that I would like higher challenges and perhaps it is time to pass the baton to someone else," he added.

Speculation on Prasad's future includes the suggestion he could be recruited as a bowling coach to the senior Indian team.

We Only lost One Match

Prasad as bowling coach for senior team???

agree with u guys when ever i think of chokers i get the name of india the way their bowlers bowled in the 2003 finals it was sure presure then their batsman couldnt chase 235 or 245 in tvc victor final and now this u19 wc they sure r chokers nive thread man

India do lose a lot of finals, but if they were chockers then evereyone of them finals would be very one-sided.

Do you remember the 2003 world cup final. That wasnt one sided?

I'm talking about evreyone of those final loses not just 1. Anyway in the world cup final that could have happened to anyone, Ponting scored those 2 sixes in a row agaisnt Bhajji with resonable balls, it was'nt a bad ball, and he clipped Srinath of the 23rd over off a good ball, it was great batting, India got off to a very bad start, pulled it back, then the aussie batsmen just massacred them and even some good balls went for 4 or 6.

well... going by the excellent record Indians possess in beating teams better than them once in a while I would not call them chokers.. infact they overachieve for the quality of team they have produced.. can you remember the last Indian which made the opposition undies turn brown? I cant..

we nearly choked aswell

Playa its one thing losing one or two finals. But losing every one of them. In in manner of the WC finals or the VB series second final or even that tri series in Zimbabwe.