Aakash Chopra Wants India To Play 5 Bowlers-3 Pacers And 2 Spinners

Aug 5, 2021 at 9:42 PM

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Aakash Chopra Wants India To Play 5 Bowlers-3 Pacers And 2 Spinners

Aakash Chopra wants Team India to play five bowlers – three pacers and two spinners – during the upcoming 5 match Test series against England. Aakash Chopra pointed out that the ball grips and turns during this time of the year in England and hence India must back both spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to deliver.

The side’s bowling combination in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand was heavily questioned and criticized. India’s decision to play both spinners on a seaming track in Southampton backfired as the Kiwis secured a victory by eight wickets.

Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja Photo Credit: AP
Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja Photo Credit: AP

Aakash Chopra Wants India To Play 5 Bowlers-3 Pacers And 2 Spinners

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra stated that Team India must play five bowlers, including two spinners, and back six batters to do the job in the top and middle-order.

The former opener said: “Try and play five bowlers – three fast bowlers and two spinners. Even if Rishabh Pant bats at six in that case, Ashwin and Jadeja can definitely contribute with the bat. They will have to put mind to matter and score runs. But playing three fast bowlers and two spinners will give Team India incredible depth in the bowling.”

“Bumrah, Shami and Ishant will be my three pacers while Ashwin and Jadeja can handle the spin department. Second half of English summer, the ball is going to grip and turn. The first match is in Nottingham, where Team India might go in with only four bowlers. But going ahead in the series, five bowlers should be a must according to me.”

India was bowled out for 217 in the first innings of the WTC final and crumbled to 170 in their second essay. Thus, in spite of the fact that two full days of play were lost to rain, New Zealand trounced India by eight wickets on the Reserve 6th Day.

Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Ravindra Jadeja had an off Test as he scored 15 off 53 balls before being dismissed by Trent Boult in the first innings. When it came to bowling, the all-rounder returned figures of 1/20 in 7.2 overs. In the second innings, he could only score 16 off 49 deliveries and only bowled eight of the 45 overs in the second innings, going wicketless and conceding 25 runs.

Unlike India, New Zealand went into this big match with four quicks, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner, and Colin de Grandhomme as their pace bowling all-rounder at no. 7.

Aakash Chopra Wants Mayank Agarwal To Open

With Shubman Gill ruled out, India will again have to change their opening combination for the Test series. According to Aakash Chopra, the visitors must avoid experimenting at the top of the order and go with Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma, who have tasted success as an opening pair in India.

“There are not plenty of options in the opening department. Team India’s camp does seem to have a lot of confidence in Abhimanyu Easwaran as of now, as per reports. Mayank Agarwal is making a comeback of sorts. Prithvi Shaw has been chosen on the back of some stellar white-ball form “

Rohit Sharma And Mayank Agarwal (Photo:BCCI/Twitter)
Rohit Sharma And Mayank Agarwal (Photo: BCCI/Twitter)

“So, Agarwal should open with Rohit Sharma since KL Rahul has been earmarked as a middle-order bat. Team India should avoid experimenting with Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari at the top of the order,” said Aakash Chopra.

After a month-long break from international cricket, Virat Kohli-led Team India would get ready for action. They would take on England in the first of the five-match Test series, starting August 4. The first Test would be played at Trent Bridge. India and England will meet in the first match of the five-match series from August 4 in Nottingham.

India my field a four prolonged pace attack in Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah while Mohammed Siraj may also get a look-in.

India’s Predicted XI for 1st Test vs England: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah

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