Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes that Team India will miss their star all-rounder Axar Patel in the bowling department in the second test against West Indies. Rohit Sharma-led side once again played a dominating brand of cricket against the Men in Maroon as they posted a massive total of 487 runs in the 1st innings.
India went in with a single change for the second test as they brought in debutant Mukesh Kumar in place of Shardul Thakur as they were no place for Axar Patel in the team. The Indian all-rounder has been in the form of his life in recent times. The Left-handed all-rounder has been consistent with both bat and ball in all three formats of the game for India.
Speaking on his youtube channel, Aakash Chopra questioned India’s team selection for the 2nd test against the West Indies team as he feels the Indian team will miss Axar Patel on the bowling innings of the game and believes that the pitch is not quite helpful to the pacers, as they are no enough swing and bounce in the wicket.
“We were talking about the West Indies that’s why they have played four fast bowlers. India’s selection has also been doubtful that you have not played Axar Patel here. I feel the Indian team will miss Axar Patel,” he added.
“The Indian innings ended at 438. Then you ask the question – is that enough? If you see the pitch, the way the ball is not swinging here, it is enough but it might not be that much that you don’t have to bat again,” Aakash Chopra said.
In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against Australia at home, Axar Patel hit 264 runs in 4 matches against a high-quality Australian attack, becoming India’s 2nd highest run-getter after Virat Kohli in the high-octane 4-Test series and can be a handy bowler to the team, if the surface has some assistance for the spinners.
It Hasn’t Looked Like The Ball Is Going To Turn A Lot Or The Pitch Is Going… – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra feels the pitch has no real assistance to bowlers in the 2nd test, as the ball did not turn so far in the game and the surface also didn’t deteriorate as of Day 2 despite the West Indies pacers picking up wickets in the innings and reckons that they were no life in the pitch so far.
“The pitch you have seen till now, it hasn’t looked like the ball is going to turn a lot or the pitch is going to deteriorate a lot. If you see the West Indies fast bowlers, Kemar Roach did pick up three wickets for sure and Jomel Warrican has picked up three wickets, but I haven’t seen that much life in the pitch,” Aakash Chopra added.
India is well on top at the end of the Day 2 play posting a massive total of 438 runs in the 1st innings and they will look to pick up some quick wickets on Day 3 to put the Men in Maroon in trouble.