ICC World Cup 2019 | India has to use the defeat as a learning experience, says Krishnamachari Srikkanth

After a brilliant start to the tournament that saw the Men in Blue record five straight wins apart from the washed out match against New Zealand, the title contenders suffered their first set back on Saturday with a 31-run loss to the hosts.

While the ever-so-flamboyant Rohit Sharma hit his third century of the tournament, skipper Kohli made his fifth 50 on the trot. However, once the duo got out, no one could take the initiative while also staying long enough on the  crease to guide India to another victory.

“There are still some problems for India to fix, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are the main run-getters at the moment and they need some support,” Srikkanth wrote in his column for the ICC.

As far as bowling is concerned, Shami took yet another five wicket haul, his 14th wicket in three games while Bumrah’s excellence in the death kept the hosts from reaching 350.“Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami were both superb again with the ball as well, but the spinners had an off-day - these things can happen,” he added.

England had to perform to avoid losing their third in a row and came out all guns blazing. While disappointing, the loss has not really blocked India’s path en-route to booking a top four spot with them needing just a solitary point off the next two games.

“Defeat to England is certainly not a disaster – it was a fantastic game of cricket and really you have to say India were totally outplayed by the better team. They have to accept their defeat in a gracious manner and move on to their final two games against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka,” the former opener who was a part of the World Cup winning team in 1983 added.

“For India, a chase of 338 was never an easy task, even if it was quite a flat wicket at Edgbaston. It could have been even higher if not for the mastery of Bumrah in his final five overs. But in the end England fully deserved their win while India can take heart from getting over 300 in their first proper chase of this tournament. That will stand India in good stead moving forward and they have to use this defeat as a learning experience,” Srikkanth signed off.