Aakash Chopra believes Team India’s consistent batting collapses are an issue they need to address. The Indian team lost their last seven wickets for just 49 runs on Day 3 of the ongoing Boxing Day Test against South Africa. They were bowled out for 327 runs in their first innings after being comfortably placed at 278/3 at one stage.
The former India cricketer turned commentator cited the multiple occasions on which the no.1 ranked Test side’s batting has been dismantled. South Africa in response could only manage 197, handing India a 130-run advantage. Mohammad Shami was the wrecker in chief for India with a five-wicket haul as the Proteas were bowled out for 197.
Aakash Chopra Said Collapses Happening Everywhere Citing Examples When India Got All Out For 36 And 78 While England Got All Out For 68
The Indian team’s preference to play with five frontline bowlers has also contributed to these batting debacles. While the lower-order batters have made decent contributions at times, they have more often than not proved easy fodder for the opposition.
Aakash Chopra observed: “It happened in Adelaide as well, they got all out for 36. It happened in Leeds also, we were all out for 78. We collapsed in Kanpur also. England also got all out for 68, collapses are happening everywhere but we have to look at ourselves, how we can improve.”
Lungi Ngidi rattled India with 6/71 to bowl out the visitors for 327, their second-highest total at the venue. From a point where India was eyeing somewhere between 400 to 450, Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada’s combined attack with the second new ball got South Africa back in the game in style.
India, who began Day 3 at 272/3 with the second day being washed out, could add only five runs before centurion KL Rahul gloved Lungi Ngidi to Quinton de Kock to give South Africa a breakthrough. Three overs later, KL Rahul‘s overnight batting partner Ajinkya Rahane, two short of a fifty, slashed at a wide ball, edging to the keeper. KL Rahul was the first to make the walk back for India, adding just one run to his overnight score of 122.
Aakash Chopra Reckons India Have To Somehow Stop Collapses
Aakash Chopra added that the Virat Kohli-led side will have to nip the issue in the bud.
He stated: “If the Indian team is lacking something at the moment, because we are the best team in the world and want to become the best always, then for that these collapses, we will have to stem the rot. We will have to somehow stop these collapses.”
The reputed commentator concluded by reiterating that Team India will have to address this flurry of wickets.
Aakash Chopra said: “Something needs to be done so that one wicket does not bring two to five more wickets. Even if there is a partnership for 20-30 runs, the things change. This I feel is a thing which is a negative for India, let’s be very very honest.”