Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra lambasted Lucknow Super Giants management’s decision to send out-of-form Deepak Hooda at the number three spot against the Gujarat Titans in the chase of a mammoth total. The Indian batter would not keep the momentum set up by Quinton de Cock and Kyle Mayers in the powerplay.
The defending champions Gujarat Titans batted beautifully in the scorching heat of Ahmedabad to post a total of 227-2 at the end of 20 overs with their openers Shubman Gill 94* (51) and Wriddhiman Saha 81 (43) taking on the LSG bowlers all around the park at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Speaking on his YouTube Channel, Aakash Chopra was not disappointed with LSG’s decision to send underperforming Deepak Hooda up the order after the blistering start by their openers in the powerplay and said that the Indian batter played slow as the run rate went high in the middle overs.
“When it was Lucknow’s turn to bat, this team also batted well. Kyle Mayers and Quinton de Kock launched absolute rockets. More than 70 runs were scored in the first six overs. I mean, cat among the pigeons,” Aakash Chopra said.
“Mayers got out and Deepak Hooda came to bat. A lot of people might say that Deepak Hooda played slow, and scored at a run-a-ball, but Deepak Hooda does not have form at all. Why did you send Deepak Hooda?”
Lucknow Super Giants batter could not accelerate past the powerplay as they lost wickets in the regular intervals in the chase of mammoth total and registered their third consecutive loss in the league stage putting them in a spot of bother for the Playoffs.
Everyone Knows That Deepak Hooda Does Not Have Form – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra feels that Krunal Pandya-led side should have sent Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, or Ayush Badoni in place of Deepak Hooda as their in better form in this edition of the cash-rich league and reckons that it is the moment that LSG lost the momentum in the game.
“You, I, and everyone know that he does not have form. What all options you had – Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, and Krunal Pandya as well, who batted at No. 3 in the last match? You went towards Deepak Hooda despite having so many options. You lost the momentum there,” Aakash Chopra added.
Lucknow Super Giants will take on 2016 Champions Sunrisers Hyderabad in the next encounter and will look to a make return to the winning ways on May 13 and give themselves the best chance to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive time.