Former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra has played down the idea of going in with an extra batsman in the fourth Test at The Oval starting from Thursday. Indian batting collapsed twice in the same Test match at Headingley. Due to India’s humiliating loss, all the talks regarding playing an extra batsman has cropped up. There are also talks of playing with two sinners and the inclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin.
In his recent Youtube video, Aakash Chopra has tried to decipher India’s likely playing XI in the fourth Test. He said that skipper Virat Kohli will play five specialist bowlers and back them to come good.
“Captain Kohli has said that he will play five proper bowlers. He has got that mindset. I am okay to live with it because Kohli has won more than he has lost. He has already become India’s most successful Test captain. We have got overseas victories in his captaincy which did not come earlier” said Chopra.
Aakash Chopra further said that Ishant Sharma might miss out on the next Test match and either of Shardul Thakur or Ravichandran Ashwin might play. The unfortunate knee injury to Ravindra Jadeja might rule him out of the next Test as well. In that scenario, both Thakur and Ashwin might feature in the XI.
I Don’t See Ishant Sharma Playing At The Oval: Aakash Chopra
“I don’t see Ishant Sharma playing. If you are going to play four fast bowlers, Shardul will play and if you want to play an extra spinner, Ashwin will play. But the whole scenario will change if Jaddu is not available” added Chopra.
Rishabh Pant's batting average in 2021 ⬇️
Before WTC final: 64.37
Since then: 18.85 pic.twitter.com/0Ni0Xz3sCk— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) August 30, 2021
There is also pressure on Rishabh Pant to perform well and come good in the remaining Tests. Before the WTC final he averaged 64.37 and since then his average has dropped below to 18.85. Ajinkya Rahane might also be benched for the next Test given his run of low scores since the Melbourne ton.
Also Read: ENG vs IND 2021: Aakash Chopra Picks His Winner For The Fourth Test
