Bhuvneshwar Kumar Has Been Expensive In Warm-Up Match And Shardul Thakur May Play Instead Vs Pakistan: Aakash Chopra

Oct 21, 2021 at 12:48 PM

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Bhuvneshwar Kumar Has Been Expensive In Warm-Up Match And Shardul Thakur May Play Instead Vs Pakistan: Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra feels Bhuvneshwar Kumar is not a certain pick for Team India’s T20 World Cup opening fixture against arch-rivals Pakistan. He added that the Virat Kohli-led side might consider playing Shardul Thakur instead.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was taken to the cleaners by the England batsmen in last night’s warm-up encounter between the two sides. The swing bowler failed to take a single wicket and conceded 54 runs in his four-over spell.

Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Aakash Chopra: Bhuvneshwar Kumar Has Been Too Expensive In Warm-up And Shardul Thakur May Play Instead Against Pakistan

Aakash Chopra highlighted Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s below-par performance, while reviewing India’s bowling performance in a video shared on his YouTube channel,

“Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been expensive. He is not looking a patch of his usual self. He has a lot of experience but I am not 100% convinced that you can play him in the XI against Pakistan. I will be thinking about Shardul Thakur.”

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Image Credit: Twitter)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Image Credit: Twitter)

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Rahul Chahar’s expensive spell has sealed Varun Chakravarthy’s spot as Team India’s second spinner.

Aakash Chopra had the following to say about the two Indian spinners on display: “Rahul Chahar was very expensive. That means I see Varun Chakravarthy playing the next match and against Pakistan. Ravichandran Ashwin bowled well, bowled off-spin as well in the first couple of overs but will you see him playing as the third spinner if three play.”

Rahul Chahar castled Dawid Malan for his only wicket but was taken for 43 runs in his four-over spell. Although Ravichandran Ashwin went wicketless, he conceded just 23 runs in his four overs.

Aakash Chopra: Mohammed Shami Did His Job To Pick Wickets And Jasprit Bumrah Was Economical

Aakash Chopra named Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami as Team India’s preferred seam-bowling options.

“Mohammed Shami did his job and picked wickets and Bumrah was economical. Mohammed Shami’s yorkers are falling in place but he can also be expensive but then Bumrah is your No.1 fast bowler and Mohammed Shami is your second fast bowler. That was a big takeaway.”

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami (Photo | PTI)
Indian pacer Mohammed Shami (Photo | PTI)

While pointing out that India might not have the luxury of a sixth bowling option, the 44-year-old concluded by stating that Varun Chakravarthy and Shardul Thakur should be fielded in the next warm-up match against Australia.

Aakash Chopra observed: “It is almost confirmed that India are not going to get a sixth bowler because Hardik has not bowled even now. You should definitely play Varun Chakravarthy and Shardul Thakur against Australia.”

With Bhuvneshwar Kumar still looking out of sorts, Shardul Thakur might be preferred over him as Team India’s third pacer. Ravichandran Ashwin might have also stolen a march on Rahul Chahar as the third spinner if India opts to go with a spin-heavy attack. It will be interesting to see what playing XI, India will select in their second warm-up match against Australia, scheduled to be played on Sunday.
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