21 June,2017 09:45 AM IST | New Delhi | PTI
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels the blame for India's embarrassing loss to arch-rivals Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final lies with the team's bowlers, who disappointed when it mattered
Harbhajan Singh
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels the blame for India's embarrassing loss to arch-rivals Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final lies with the team's bowlers, who "disappointed when it mattered".
Harbhajan said the runs leaked in the middle overs and the spinners' inability to take wickets made a huge impact in the match as Pakistan piled on a big total of 338-4 after being put into bat.
"Our bowlers disappointed when it mattered the most. We didn't start too well to begin with. The spinners did not help by giving away too many runs, plus they didn't take any wickets. This cost us immensely," Harbhajan wrote in his column for the ICC.
"Our fielding was not up to the mark as seen in previous matches. It was such kind of performance where we were hoping for a breakthrough rather than making things happen.
"The runs given in the middle overs were too much. They got their partnerships spot on. They were up for it right from the first ball and one had the feeling that they had saved their best for the final against us," he said.
