Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has put his weight behind KL Rahul’s approach with nightwatchman, Akash Deep, on the fourth day of the third Test match against England at Lord’s. With only 15 minutes left for the day’s play, India decided to send Deep as a nightwatch after Shubman Gill’s dismissal.
In the last couple of overs, Rahul stayed at the non-striker’s end so that Deep could protect him from taking strike. However, Rahul’s tactics were questioned by some experts, but Chopra said it was the right strategy as India wanted the opener to stay unbeaten at the close of play.
“13 minutes were left. Personally, I am not a huge fan of nightwatchman. I feel if a batter can’t do the job, how can a nightwatchman do it? I am not a fan of it, but it’s an individual decision. I respect that as well. Every person sees it differently,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“When Akash Deep came, he had only one job to do. He had to protect his wicket, keep his partner away from strike, and not let the next batter come. That’s his only duty in life. In the last over, if KL Rahul finds a single off the first ball, he must take it. If he doesn’t take a single, stands there only, and gets out himself, that would be foolish. That is just common sense,” he added.
Deep was bowled in the final over by England captain Ben Stokes and the stumps were called thereafter.
Rahul was even trolled after he gave the strike to Akash Deep, but Chopra said it is beyond his understanding, as the flamboyant batter did the right thing.
“I am shocked beyond my understanding. Either they are lockdown kids who haven’t seen or understood cricket properly, and have an opinion about everything. They are nameless and slightly shameless. Rahul was trolled so much. I was like, what is the nightwatchman’s job?” he said.
The renowned commentator said Akash Deep did his job as he survived the last few overs after farming the strike.
“He got out to the last ball, but he did his job. He survived for 13 minutes. KL Rahul was not out at the other end, and he didn’t let Rishabh Pant come in. So Akash Deep did what he was asked to do. This is what the nightwatchman’s job is,” Chopra observed.
The fourth Test match between England and India will be played at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, from July 23 onwards.
