'This is probably the reason why they lost in WC Qualifiers' - Wasim Jaffer analyzes West Indies' continued dismal run in ODIs

The first ODI encounter between India and West Indies at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, was marred by a glaring batting collapse that left Windies reeling and questioning their fate.

The 114 all-out defeat in a mere 23 overs was a dismal display by the Men in Maroon. Kuldeep Yadav's mesmerizing spell of 4/6 and Ravindra Jadeja's artistry with 3/37 proved insurmountable for West Indies batters. Conversely, the Men in Blue, driven by the brilliant half-century from Ishan Kishan, achieved victory, chasing down the target in 22.5 overs.

After this embarrassing defeat, former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer emphasized that the lackluster performance in this particular ODI by West Indies' is indicative of the broader issues that have hindered their qualification for the prestigious 2023 World Cup.

Jaffer expressed his disappointment at the Windies' inability to rise to the occasion. He attributed the downfall to several factors, including the pitch's erratic nature, offering occasional assistance to spinners. Nevertheless, he firmly asserted that batting through the entire 50 overs and reaching a competitive score of 210-220 runs would have been pivotal in altering the course of the game.

"They didn’t [show up] and that’s the disappointing bit. Their woes in this format and in general continue. I thought the pitch wasn’t great, it had a little bit of up and down pace," Jaffer said during a discussion on ESPNcricinfo

You have got to give credit to the other teams who have played well against them: Jaffer

The former cricketer also lauded the opposition teams, who have shown remarkable tenacity against West Indies, resulting in their failure to qualify for the World Cup. While acknowledging Shai Hope's commendable performance, Jaffer stressed that the collective batting quality and adaptability were lacking, especially when confronted by a formidable bowling attack.

“This is probably the reason why they lost in the qualifiers to teams that are not obviously as great as what West Indies used to be. You have got to give credit to the other teams who have played well against them," he added.

Windies captain Hope himself expressed his frustration at the team's lethargic batting effort and urged the need to devise effective strategies for scoring on challenging pitches. In the face of the Indian bowlers' brilliance, Hope confessed to West Indies' failure in the batting department, which played a pivotal role in their downfall.

As the fans await the second West Indies-India ODI, the Men in Maroon must introspect and address their shortcomings to rise once again as a cricketing force as they are set to face another challenging encounter in Barbados on Saturday, July 29.