Ravi Bopara Highlights India’s Short‑Ball Worries After Second ODI Collapse

Former England all‑rounder Ravi Bopara says India’s batsmen appear uneasy facing short‑ball deliveries after the team’s batting collapse in the second ODI at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens.

After taking the first match, India were bowled out for 233 in the second ODI, as England’s fast bowlers took all nine wickets with aggressive short‑pitched attacks, sealing a series‑leveling victory.

During the mid‑innings interval, Bopara noted that India’s difficulty against short‑ball deliveries seemed to impact the whole batting lineup.

“It’s almost like every time an Indian batsman falls to the short ball, a signal is sent to the dressing room, and they get worried about the short ball,” he was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.

He added that the differing pace and bounce on English wickets highlighted India’s vulnerability.

“You get a lot of indifference in pace and bounce on English wickets. It just looks like India are a little bit worried about the short ball at the moment,” Bopara said.

Former England captain Eoin Morgan praised England’s execution, especially in the middle overs, where they restricted the run rate and induced errors from the Indian batting side.

Morgan said England’s disciplined bowling in the second Powerplay forced Indian batters into risky, cross‑bat shots, leading to frequent dismissals.

“Throughout the middle phase of the game, England took wickets, and India’s runs flowed.“But England were more accurate with how they bowled in the second powerplay. They enticed India into cross-batted shots, which stunted them and allowed England to take and create more opportunities,” he noted.

Virat Kohli reached 65 before being dismissed, ending a knock that had looked promising. Morgan described the dismissal as atypical given Kohli’s usual ability to convert fifties into match‑winning hundreds.

“All of us had the house on for Kohli producing something special. We’re all homeless now! He looked highly tuned, Virat Kohli in the form of his life from the get-go. He walked out with a huge amount of intent; his footwork was crisp, and he made things look easy.

“It was classic Kohli, accumulating a run-a-ball, even when partnerships slowed. For him to get out at 65 is an anomaly. We’ve seen how good he is throughout his career, converting starts into hundreds. He normally capitalises and punishes the opposition, but not today, and that’s to England’s credit,” he concluded.

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