Aakash Chopra, former opener turned commentator was of the opinion that the Indian team dropping Prithvi Shaw for the 2nd Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be like making him the sacrificial lamb for the debacle in the Adelaide encounter where India were bowled out for paltry 36 registering their lowest Test score.
He made this observation while responding to fan questions in a video shared on his Facebook page where he was asked whether Prithvi Shaw should be given one last chance to rectify his mistakes.
Aakash Chopra Has Doubts On Prithvi Shaw’s Technique
Aakash Chopra was asked to give his opinion whether India can afford to give Prithvi Shaw one last chance in the ongoing Test series. He responded by saying that the diminutive opener can very well be dropped as he fared miserably with the bat in both the innings of the first Test.
“They can drop him as well, there is no doubt about that. He has not scored runs in both the innings, so you can drop him easily. He has scored just the four runs.”
The reputed commentator acknowledged that there are also question marks raised about opener Prithvi Shaw’s technique. He observed replacing him with Shubman Gill who is yet to debut in Test for the Boxing Day Test will necessitate another change for the Sydney Test once Rohit Sharma is available.
“I am just playing the devil’s advocate as I also have doubts on his technique, but if you drop him now and make Shubman Gill open in the next match, then Rohit Sharma will come and you will play him.”
Aakash Chopra added that India will then have to drop either Shubman Gill or Mayank Agarwal to make way for Rohit Sharma who is currently under quarantine but will be available in last 2 Tests.
“So whom will you make sit out then, whoever makes fewer runs between Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal. Then, you will keep playing the game of musical chairs. How do you decide that it is enough and more chances are not required to be given.”
Aakash Chopra believes dropping Prithvi Shaw might send the wrong signals as Prithvi Shaw had an extended lean patch that started in the IPL 2020 where he amassed 228 runs averaging a pathetic 17.53. He performed poorly in two warm-up matches too as 40 was his highest score in 4 innings.
Aakash Chopra: India Must Not Make Prithvi Shaw Scapegoat As India Has Failed Collectively In 2nd Test
Aakash Chopra highlighted that while Prithvi Shaw can be dropped, India should not make him the scapegoat of India’s defeat as even another opener Mayank Agarwal was not amongst the runs in the first Test.
“In my opinion, you can drop him but if you have to run the game in the right spirit, don’t find scapegoats. Both the openers have done a bad job. If you leave out one of them, then it will come that you are finding scapegoats, that you have lost the match and someone has to be made the scapegoat for that, so you can make him that.”
Aakash Chopra stressed that none of the Indian batsmen fared well collectively while he acknowledged Prithvi Shaw can be omitted as he has not scored runs.
“Although justification can come that you can drop him because he has not made runs but no one made the runs. It has been a bad Test match for all batsmen. It has been a collective failure.”
Aakash Chopra concluded by stating that Prithvi Shaw being left out will result in too many changes in the Indian playing XI, as they are anyway going to field replacements for homebound Virat Kohli and injured Mohammed Shami for the Boxing Day Test.
“Don’t discount that and one change is anyway going to happen, Kohli is not there, so someone has to come. How many changes will you make in the batting or in the team? If Shami is not there, another person will come.”
Replacing opener Prithvi Shaw might result in quite a few changes to the Indian team to maintain balance. The thinktank also do not have too many options left as the youngster has looked completely out of sorts.
This change at the top of the order can be done once Rohit Sharma is available for the Sydney Test, it might just be too late as the Indian team cannot afford another reversal at Melbourne.
India are on the verge to make as many as five changes according to the latest report and the inclusions will be Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj and Rishabh Pant.