Former India cricketer-turned-veteran commentator Aakash Chopra said that India made a big move by not opening with the young opener Shubman Gill in the second T20I against New Zealand. However, they played with Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant and they posted a huge score of 191/6 after being asked to bat first at Mount Maunganui on Sunday, November 20. However, their bowlers then restricted New Zealand to 126 to complete a convincing 65-run win as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said: “The XI that was played gives a slight peep into India’s future, that what they are trying to do. Of course, Hardik Pandya is the captain here and the team went with Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant as the openers, which means Shubman Gill not an opener. It is a big statement in my opinion. Shubman Gill is a three-format player, he plays in a proper fashion. In my opinion, if India are searching for a new template, Shubman Gill does not fit into that at this point in time. We have better explosive players than him.”
However, the veteran also added that there were questions about India opening with two left-handers as well. He again shared that such questions do not come into place when two right-handers open as well. He also named Suryakumar Yadav batting at No. 3 as another positive decision by the team as well.
A well deserved Player of the Match award for @surya_14kumar as #TeamIndia win by 65 runs in the 2nd T20I 👏👏
Scorecard – https://t.co/OvmynDiyd8 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/TuYSRsIIgQ
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 20, 2022
“That was a big tick mark” – Aakash Chopra on Suryakumar Yadav’s batting position
Chopra also said that the decision to play the speedster Mohammed Siraj was a good call by the team management. However, he further added that Harshal Patel being ignored raises questions about his future as well.
“Surya coming in at No. 3 was another statement that you want your most dangerous batter to play as many deliveries as possible. So that was a big tick mark. When you played Deepak Hooda and Washington Sundar along with him, you didn’t think at all that what will happen to your batting at No. 8. In the entire World Cup and Asia Cup, we were told that we need a batter at No. 8, and that is why you couldn’t play Yuzi Chahal. Here you went with four bowlers and didn’t think about the batting at No. 8. You thought that you will pick bowlers who can pick up wickets,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
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