Ignoring pacers, under-using Sundar: Aakash Chopra questions India’s choice

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised issues over India’s staff choice of their ongoing T20I collection in opposition to England, citing it as a key motive for his or her defeat within the third T20I in Rajkot. After successful the primary two matches, India didn’t seal the collection, permitting England to tug one again with a win on January 28. Chopra believes India has not totally utilised its squad depth, which has contributed to the inconsistent staff efficiency.

Whereas Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma guided India to victories within the first two matches with particular person brilliance and Varun Chakravarthy impressed with the ball, India has lacked a well-rounded collective effort. One among Chopra’s most important issues is the underutilisation of Washington Sundar, who has been within the enjoying XI for the final two matches however has hardly been given the ball.

IND vs ENG, third T20I: Highlights

“You might be saying you need 4 spinners. Let me agree that you just want 4 spinners, however are you bowling 16 overs of spin? You do not do this as properly. You bought Washington to bowl just one over. You can not play somebody for one over. It’s weird,” Chopra added.

Sundar was launched into the lineup within the second T20I in Chennai, changing Nitish Kumar Reddy, however bowled only one over for 9 runs. The pattern continued in Rajkot, the place he was once more restricted to a solitary over, conceding 15 runs. Chopra questioned why India would decide a bowling all-rounder however not use him successfully within the assault.

Moreover, Chopra raised issues about India’s reluctance to subject a correct mixture of pacers regardless of having Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, and Harshit Rana within the squad. He prompt that India’s staff choice has not been balanced, resulting in avoidable weaknesses.

“I do not suppose we’re choosing the suitable staff. Arshdeep Singh was enjoying earlier and Hardik Pandya was there with him. Then Mohammed Shami performed and Hardik was there with him too. It is not that this staff does not have another quick bowlers, however you do not wish to play any quick bowler,” Chopra added.

One other choice determination that raised eyebrows was Dhruv Jurel’s batting place. Chopra criticised the transfer to ship the wicketkeeper-batter as little as No. 8 within the order, a priority that was additionally echoed by former England captain Kevin Pietersen after the Rajkot defeat.

With the collection now at 2-1, India should fine-tune its enjoying XI for the fourth T20I in Mumbai on January 31 to make sure a powerful collective show relatively than relying solely on particular person performances.