Team India’s poor performance in the World Test Championship Final 2023 has drawn a lot of flak from the cricket fraternity.
Did India lack intent? Did India get the selection of the Playing XI wrong?
Or did the Indian captain pick the wrong option after winning the toss?
Everyone's got their own take on what really cost India yet another ICC trophy.
Disappointed fans have taken to social media to analyse India's loss while former cricketers, especially Indians, have also opined on Rohit Sharma & Co’s humiliating defeat.
Some have said India’s decision to leave out Ravichandran Ashwin, the World No.1 Test Bowler, was where the team began to lose.
While a majority have blamed poor scheduling. Most of the Indian players barely had time to rest after the Indian Premier League’s conclusion before they were shipped off to England, switching from the shortest format to the longest format of the game within days.
But most of all, ex-Indian cricketers have lambasted Team India for their poor show in every facet against the mighty Kangaroos.
And now after countless human opinions on India’s loss, the famed ChatGPT has pronounced its verdict on the one-off Test match.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT was asked why India has repeatedly faltered at major ICC events?
The AI began its reasoning by saying, ‘India's performance in ICC (International Cricket Council) events has varied over the years, and it would be an oversimplification to say that India consistently falters in these tournaments.’
It went on to list the trophies India has won, from the 1983 ODI World Cup to the 2011 ODI World Cup triumph and the country’s last major victory, the Champions Trophy in 2013.
The bot listed out 5 reasons why India has faltered at ICC events since their last triumph a decade ago:
1. High expectations: India is a cricket-crazy nation with a massive fan base, and there is often immense pressure on the team to perform well. The weight of expectations can sometimes affect the players' performance, leading to added pressure and potential underperformance.
2. Tournament pressure: ICC events like the World Cup or Champions Trophy bring together the best cricketing nations, and the competition is intense. The pressure of playing against strong teams in high-stakes matches can affect the players' performance, causing them to falter.
3. Lack of adaptability: Conditions and pitches can vary significantly in different countries where ICC events are held. Indian players, who are more accustomed to playing in subcontinent conditions, may face challenges in adapting to different playing surfaces, climates, and bowling conditions in foreign countries.
4. Injuries and team dynamics: Injuries to key players can have a significant impact on team performance. In the past, India has faced situations where key players were unavailable or not in their best form due to injuries, which affected the team's overall performance. Additionally, team dynamics, including issues related to team selection, communication, and coordination, can also impact performance.
5. Lack of consistent performance: Consistency is crucial in tournament-style competitions. While India has had successful campaigns in some ICC events, they have also experienced periods of inconsistency. In some instances, the team may perform exceptionally well in certain matches but struggle in others, leading to an overall faltering performance.
While most of the AI’s reasoning rings true, it is important to note that the bot’s knowledge comes from a limited inventory of information.
A variety of factors need to be considered while opining on a sports event, including the requirement of watching the entire game.
Analysis by cricket pundits stems from their observations made throughout the Test match.
And both the AI chatbot and several evaluations by experts of the game have emphasised on one major thing - that the variables, the combinations for India's failures are far too many to seek a pattern in the past decade.
In conclusion, ChatGPT said, 'It's important to note that cricket is a highly unpredictable sport, and even the best teams can have off-days or face unexpected challenges.'