Fans occasionally go too far in their criticism because of the country's intense love for the sport, and even legendary players like Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni aren't immune. Fans have always criticized Indian cricket players for performing poorly or making errors in important matches. Let us look at the top 10 moments when Indian cricketers and the Indian cricket team were heavily criticized for their performance.
1. Azharuddin – 1996 World Cup Semi-Final
In 1996, India's performance against Sri Lanka in the semifinal match was disastrous. When it became clear that India would suffer a severe loss, the crowd began hurling objects at the field, making it impossible to continue the game. As a result, the match official awarded Sri Lanka the victory. When the Indian team left Eden Gardens after the game, Azharuddin received insults and jeers from the crowd. Azharuddin was accused of giving Sri Lanka the semifinal by choosing to chase on a dry pitch after winning the toss.
2. 2003 World Cup Final
India didn't have a terrific World Cup 2003, even though they made it to the Final. India lost to Australia by nine wickets, which infuriated the entire nation. Cricket supporters torched images of Sourav Ganguly, the captain of India, and the top batters Sachin Tendulkar and Virendra Sehwag while shouting "Down with Sourav." The batsman Mohammad Kaif's family residence was the target of the most violent protest. At Kaif's home in Allahabad, a throng threw plastic bags filled with paint and black oil.
3. 2007 World Cup Vs Bangladesh
The 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, where a star-studded team was eliminated in the first round, was one of the lowest points in Indian cricket history. When India fell to Bangladesh in their first game, it was a major shock. Once more, the defeat wasn't taken lightly by the crowd. Stones were thrown at players' homes, and their effigies were burned throughout the nation. The major targets of this rage were senior players like Captain Rahul Dravid, Sahin Tendulkar, and Virender Sehwag. Being the target of this hatred proved to be depressing for Indian players. Following the same game, vandals also damaged Mahendra Singh Dhoni's newly constructed home.
4. 2014 T20 World Cup Final
Indian fans anticipated another World Cup for Team India after they advanced to the final of the World T20 in 2014. Yuvraj Singh, on the other hand, was stranded at the other end and managed only 11 runs off of 21 balls played. After that, Sri Lanka easily surpassed the victory target, and Yuvraj Singh's knock was roundly criticized. According to some, India's defeat against Sri Lanka was caused by his performance. Following the loss, a sizable crowd gathered in front of his Chandigarh residence and chanted anti-him and "retire" at him. Even some individuals threw stones at his home.
5. Bumrah - 2017 Champions Trophy Final
The Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah received harsh criticism for bowling a "No Ball" during the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final. Fakhar Zaman, the Pakistani opener, was taken down by Bumrah early on, but he later realized that he had overstepped, resulting in the No Ball. Later, Fakhar scored a brilliant century and was essential in helping Pakistan win the Champions Trophy. Bumrah was a target for haters on social media for his "No Ball" after the loss. Bumrah-related memes and jokes flooded Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
6. 2015 Bangladesh Series
Men in Blue, who reached the semifinals of the 2015 World Cup and only lost one game, paid a thorough tour of Bangladesh. The first game was a 70-run victory for the Tigers. India also dropped the second game, handing the host team their first series victory over India. After then, the Blue team won the last match to avert the humiliation of being whitewashed. The cricketing community still couldn't believe what they were seeing. The captain, MS Dhoni, was immediately held responsible for his decision-making, and several analysts even called for his dismissal.
7. 2015 Series Vs South Africa
The South African batters punished the Indian bowlers for asking them to bowl by whacking them all over the place. A score of 438/4 was recorded after 50 overs. The Indian squad got off to a fast start in their pursuit, but a batting meltdown put an end to their hopes. Even though they had some of the top white-ball players on their team, they ultimately lost by a wide score of 214 runs, which is unacceptable. The entire team received criticism after the game for their embarrassing loss in front of their fans.
8. 2016 World Cup Semi-Final
The team advanced to the semifinals after performing well in the group stages. West Indies was there to meet them with fierce resistance. The Indian team maintained composure and scored 190 runs in the opening period of the semi-final. However, a few no-ball wickets changed the balance in favor of WI just as the host team appeared to be headed for the final. The Caribbean team then went on to win the game with 4 balls remaining. Thousands of smiles turned to tears in an astonishingly short period, as the fans departed the stadium with sorrowful hearts.
9. Kohli Vs Kumble
In June 2016, Anil Kumble was appointed head coach of India. Under his leadership, the side won 2 ODI series and 5 Test series in a year. The fact that the squad advanced to the 2017 Champions Trophy finals further demonstrated his great people management abilities. His incredible run abruptly came to an end when Virat Kohli, the captain, expressed his discontent with Kumble's coaching methods. After the BCCI failed to resolve the issues between him and Kohli, Kumble abruptly resigned from his position. Indian cricket supporters were left with a bad taste in their mouths even though their disinterest had no impact on India's on-field win.
10. The 2022 T20 World Cup Semi-Final
In the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 semifinal, Hardik Pandya's 33-ball 63 helped India set England 169 to win. England sailed to victory in just 16 overs thanks to an unbroken opening stand of 170 between Jos Buttler and Alex Hales, which is the highest for any wicket in the T20 World Cup. This defeat outraged the fans and they bashed the Indian cricket team for this humiliating defeat against England in the semi-final.
