India’s cricket team has come in for sharp criticism for what fans are calling their “surrender” to England.

India lost Sunday’s World Cup game by 31 runs, but the way India went about chasing the total has upset fans.

India needed 112 runs in 11 overs with explosive batsmen like MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant in the batting line up.

But with Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav opting for singles and doubles, many say it looked as if they weren’t even trying.

Angry and confused fans have especially taken objection to Dhoni’s performance in the last few overs of the game. The former captain has the reputation of being one of the best finishers in one-day cricket, but he looked like a shadow of his former self.

Jokes a part..It's not about WINNING but its about showing the INTENT to win…. Pathetic batting from Dhoni & Jadhav ? #IndvsEng #CWC19

End of Twitter post by @DP_DivyaSree

If there was any team that had the ability to stop India’s winning run. It was England. Dhoni’s approach in the last few overs however was baffling. ?

End of Twitter post by @sanjaymanjrekar

#indiavsEngland
Sourav Ganguly is so right about Dhoni and Jadhav.
If u cant find boundaries in the last 5 overs then make way for someone who can.

End of Twitter post by @RaoSahabkaLadka

Nasir Hussain: “I don’t understand what Dhoni is doing? Atleast give it a go! Now the fans are leaving

Sourav Ganguly: “I have no explanation for this”#IndvsEng

End of Twitter post by @kashmiri_mehran

Disappointing finish. A run-a-ball partnership can't win games. Was exciting till Pandya was in.

End of Twitter post by @bhogleharsha

However some fans defended him, citing his glorious contributions to Indian cricket in the past and calling out people who suggested that his performance was motivated by other factors.

One day he will walk away without saying anything to anyone. After that day, you all will miss him so much and regret about saying against him.

Being MS Dhoni in India isn't an easy task! But at the same moment blaming him over everything is. #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/fYYI5V4Vez

End of Twitter post by @ashu_x3

The theory from Dhoni's fans that India lost the match intentionally to remove Pakistan is ridiculous. With this loss India lost a chance to be at no. 1 in the pool. They could have played Pakistan/Bangladesh, who are much weaker than Nz/AUS, in the semifinals #INDvENG

End of Twitter post by @AshwinIyer3

Please stop trolling Dhoni. We are proud of you @msdhoni , Always. #INDvENG

End of Twitter post by @vinodkapri

Dhoni quit Test cricket in 2014 but led the one-day side in the 2015 World Cup. His side lost to Australia in the semi finals, despite him scoring 65 off 65 balls.

Many at the time felt it was Dhoni’s last World Cup, with NDTV calling the innings his “final effort in his final World Cup match”.

He stood down as the captain of the one-day side in 2017 but has continued to play for the country in this format. Some critics have said Dhoni, who is 38, should have made way for a younger player in the World Cup and this performance has made these voices louder.

But his captain Virat Kohli has defended him, saying that Dhoni continues to be an integral part of India’s strategy to win the cup.

The batsman is also known for always answering his critics with his bat and he has at least two more matches in the tournament to do just that.

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