Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that India speedster Bhuvneshwar Kumar is not a certain choice for Team India’s T20 World Cup opener against their arch-rival Pakistan. He also added that the Indian team might consider playing the all-rounder Shardul Thakur as well.
Notably, Kumar conceded 54 runs in his four-over spell, claiming only a single wicket against England in a warm-up game. While reviewing India’s bowling performance in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra opened up on Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s below-par performance.
“Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been expensive. He is not looking a patch of his usual self. He has a lot of experience but I am not 100% convinced that you can play him in the XI against Pakistan. I will be thinking about Shardul Thakur,” he elaborated.
Warm up match #mshami11 pic.twitter.com/R6BKoJqxW2
— Mohammad Shami (@MdShami11) October 18, 2021
“Rahul Chahar was very expensive. That means I see Varun Chakravarthy playing the next match and against Pakistan. Ravichandran Ashwin bowled well, bowled off-spin as well in the first couple of overs but will you see him playing as the third spinner if three play,” he further added.
However, Aakash Chopra named Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami as Team India’s two seam-bowling options for the game.
He explained: “Mohammed Shami did his job and picked wickets and Bumrah was economical. Mohammed Shami’s yorkers are falling in place but he can also be expensive but then Bumrah is your No.1 fast bowler and Mohammed Shami is your second fast bowler. That was a big takeaway.”
You should definitely play Varun Chakravarthy and Shardul Thakur against Australia – Aakash Chopra
Meanwhile, the veteran has also stated that India might not have chosen the sixth bowling option. And, he added that Varun Chakravarthy and Shardul Thakur should be added to the team as well.
“It is almost confirmed that India are not going to get a sixth bowler because Hardik has not bowled even now. You should definitely play Varun Chakravarthy and Shardul Thakur against Australia,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
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