Former players slam India after defeat

'[Chappell] was brought in with the specific aim of taking India to the top two teams in the world and that has not happened. His position will be debated," said Gavaskar © AFP Enlarge

Former Indian players expressed their disappointment over India's 69-run loss to Sri Lanka in their Group B match in Trinidad. India are now almost certainly out of the World Cup unless Bermuda cause an upset and beat Bangladesh on March 25.

Kapil Dev, the former Indian allrounder, said that India did not deserve to go into the Super 8 stage of the World Cup. "It is shameful that we have to rely on Bermuda to stay in the tournament," Kapil told an Indian news channel as reported by AFP. "I hope that does not happen because Bangladesh deserve to go into the second round since they had also defeated India. All credit to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. India were pathetic and not good enough to remain in the tournament."

India lost to Bangladesh by five wickets in their opening match of the World Cup. In their second match they beat Bermuda by 257 runs and in the process posted a World Cup highest total of 413.

Sunil Gavaskar, the former Indian captain, said that there was a question mark over the future of Greg Chappell as the Indian coach. "He was brought in with the specific aim of taking India to the top two teams in the world and that has not happened," said Gavaskar. "His position will be debated."

But Gavaskar did not have the same view on Rahul Dravid's position as the Indian captain. "Rahul is 34 and you do not sack captains at 34 when they are peaking," he said. "I don't see any reason for a change because Dravid has not shown any sign of pressure. His batting has not faltered."