India got basics wrong: Warne

MUMBAI: Pre-tournament favourites India got their basics wrong in Thursday’s high-scoring semifinal against the West Indies here and paid the penalty to make an early exit from the ICC World T20 championship, according to Australian leg spin legend Shane Warne. “I backed India for the title before the tournament, but on Thursday they did not do their basics right. The couple of no-balls and the dew cost them dearly,” said Warne at a ‘Monarch Cruise’ function here. India rattled up 192 for 2, their second-highest ever score in the tournament history but were flattened by newly inducted West Indies opener Lendl Simmons’ unbeaten knock of 83, after being caught twice off no-balls bowled by off spinner R Ashwin and medium pacer Hardik Pandya, who piloted them home to a seven-wicket victory with two balls to spare. “Virat Kohli did so well on Thursday. He’s the best T20 player at No. 3 for me,” said Warne about Kohli’s unbeaten 89 which laid the foundation for India’s big score. Warne said he was not a man to say no to any proposition such as coaching the Indian team but presently his plate was full as a TV broadcaster and poker player. (PTI)