India played too much cricket

Former captain Kapil Dev has lashed out at Team India for lacking team spirit in the ongoing Test series against England, and also criticized senior cricketers, including captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar, for not motivating the youngsters in the squad.

The former all-rounder, who led India to its maiden World Cup title in 1983, slammed Dhoni's men for "going through the motion(s) more than their love for the game" in the ongoing four-match series, which England have already pocketed with an unassailable 3-0 lead.

"Indian players did not play as a team. I am not trying to blame anybody, but I think they played too much cricket. Within four days of winning the World Cup you play IPL. They then travel to West Indies for a tour and then from there to England. I think our players were going through the motion(s) more than their love for the game," Kapil told Press Trust of India.

Asked whether there are any other reasons for the humiliating defeat against England, which dislodged India from the No 1 position, Kapil said the seniors have not guided the youngsters during the tour.

"No cricketer walked up to young bowlers to advise them on what line to bowl. Dhoni could go up to Ishant (Sharma) and tell this. Media termed him as 'Captain Cool'. He says everybody should know their job.

"In Indian sports, we have not reached that level where all the players know what they should do. We still look up to the captain and senior players. We need somebody with aggression. All the senior players have become so senior that they do not want to be aggressive," he said.