Aakash Chopra has criticized the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) management after they lost their third match of the season to Mumbai Indians. KXIP have been at the receiving end of all the criticism for their wrong tactics. Aakash Chopra questioned the decision to give inexperienced Krishnappa Gowtham the last over of the Mumbai Indians innings where the off-spinner was smacked for 25 runs.

Moreover, Sheldon Cottrell, their best bowler of the day, wasn’t given the ball in the death overs as his quota was finished much earlier in the Mumbai Indians innings. Sheldon Cottrell had gone for 30 runs in the previous game while bowling at the death overs and for the same reason in all probability, KL Rahul finished all of his overs. But Jimmy Neesham and Krishnappa Gowtham bowled three of the last five overs and KXIP ended up conceding 104 runs in the last six overs.

Aakash Chopra Didn’t Like Idea Of Jimmy Neesham Playing

Aakash Chopra also didn’t like the idea of all-rounder Jimmy Neesham playing while stating that the Kiwi all-rounder is neither a proper bowler nor a batsman.

“First thing is that Kings XI Punjab is not playing the right team. Honestly, they are the only team in the world where Mujeeb is not able to make it to the playing XI after being in the squad. They play Neesham, an overseas fast bowler, who neither bowls in the powerplay nor in the death overs.”

Jimmy Neesham. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

“He is neither a great finisher nor a big batsman who bats in the top four or five. So why is Kings XI Punjab playing him? You are playing a player who is not really a match-winner,” he said while speaking on his Youtube channel.

KXIP are facing a selection dilemma with players like big-hitter Chris Gayle not playing as both Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul scoring big runs opening the batting. Chris Jordan also has played just 1 game and there are not great players on the bench as the likes of Hardus Viljoen, Arshdeep Singh, Darshan Nalkande, Tajinder Singh, Simran Singh, Harpreet Brar, and Jagadeesha Sucith lacks experience.

They are yet to try out Bengal’s pacer Ishan Porel, Mandeep Singh, and Deepak Hooda in IPL 2020. Mujeeb ur Rahman is yet to be played though he had taken IPL 2018 by storm on his way to picking 14 wickets in 11 matches at under 7 runs an over.

Aakash Chopra Also Not Pleased With Jimmy Neesham, Krishnappa Gowtham, And Even Mohammed Shami Bowling Death Overs

Aakash Chopra wasn’t pleased at all with the duo of Jimmy Neesham and Krishnappa Gowtham bowling the death overs of the innings. He also stressed that Mohammed Shami is also not a gun death bowler as well. The pacer went for 19 runs in the penultimate over of the innings.

“They bowled Sheldon Cottrell at the start and finished his quota of overs before the 15th over. What sort of bowling is that, you have to get him to the death.”

Sheldon Cottrell. Image credits: ANI

“Otherwise who will bowl at the death, Jimmy Neesham and Krishnappa Gowtham with Mohammed Shami. Shami is not India’s gun death bowler and then they give the 20th over to Gowtham, an off-spinner in the 20th over. You don’t even give that over to Sunil Narine, Ravichandan Ashwin or Harbhajan Singh nowadays and you gave it to Gowtham,” the 43-year-old further added.

Jimmy Neesham has played 3 matches but has taken only 1 wicket besides scoring 7 runs.