Ex-India Star Hits Bullseye, Highlights "Two Major Issues" Ahead Of 2nd England Test
India lost the first Test of the five-match series against England earlier this week in Leeds.
- Former cricketer Aakash Chopra pointed out an imbalance in India’s team due to top-order batters not bowling.
- He said that the Indian team needs to address 2 critical issues before the 2nd Test.
- The first being top order not bowling and the second being lower-order's poor contribution with the bat.
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has highlighted the two major issues withing the current Indian Test setup. Chopra feels that there is no balance in the team as none of the their top-order batters bowl and lower order doesn't contribute much with the bat. He also gave the example of South Africa, who have the likes of Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder that bat in the top order and can also bowl a few overs in needed. His response came while replying to a query on his YouTube channel.
"I am with you. We have two kinds of problems. Our tail doesn't bat and our top order doesn't bowl. They should bowl a little at least. I am not saying that you need to give 15-odd overs, that you should have a player like Jacques Kallis, or like they (South Africa) are playing Wiaan Mulder at No. 3, or Aiden Markram is bowling a lot," responded Chopra.
The cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted that Team India would have a better balance if someone from their top order can bowl a few overs.
"It will work out even if that's not the case. That's not something you need to focus on. However, you need a little bit of bowling at least because you get some balance, options, and choices with that. However, that doesn't happen because our batters don't bowl," he added.
Another fan asked Chopra whether Axar Patel can be tried at no.3 or no.6, considering his ability to contribute with both bat and ball. However, he decided to go against that route.
"I don't know which format you are talking about. If you are talking about Test cricket, he cannot play at No. 3. He shouldn't play at No. 6 as well. You have your proper batters till No. 6. So I won't go down that route. In T20Is, he is already the Indian team's vice-captain, and he was playing in ODIs too, and doing well. So I am not actually worried about that," he said.
India lost the first Test of the five-match series against England earlier this week in Leeds. The second Test starts July 2 in Birmingham.
India Cricket Team
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Gautam Gambhir