Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra slammed Shubman Gill’s captaincy after India were frustrated by the West Indies’ tail on the fourth day of the second Test match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Monday. Chopra questioned why Gill had deep fielders for the number 11 batter Jayden Seales despite India being in front.
Justin Greaves and Seales added 79 runs for the 10th wicket to add to India’s agony. While Greaves scored an impressive fifty, Seales scored 32 runs off 67 balls. India was finally relieved after Seales was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah on an innocuous delivery on the leg-side.
Aakash Chopra said on Star Sports, “To be fair, I am actually slightly disappointed. I had expected slightly better plans. If you are ahead in the game, you want to show it in everything, and I didn’t see that. Attack doesn’t happen just by playing five bowlers. You had a sixth bowling option, towards whom you didn’t go at all. You have an arrow in your quiver, but you didn’t use it at all. So we don’t know whether he would be effective or not,” the former India opener responded.
“For the arrows you have, the field placements you have for them, how can you give singles so easily? I am slightly surprised with this and, personally, slightly disappointed as well. Generally, one should celebrate when the team wins, and all of us will celebrate, but if you want to become the best team in the world, when you are winning, take lessons from them, so that you correct those mistakes next time,” he added.
Chopra further questioned Gill’s captaincy and said the Indian captain was waiting for things to happen on their own rather than take proactive decisions.
“Even after Jayden Seales came to bat, we were waiting for him to get out. There is a limit to waiting. You have to do something from your side. This has happened multiple times in this match. As a team, we were seen waiting, that let’s see what happens, and this is not good news,” he said.
The renowned commentator wanted Gill to be a bit more attacking despite the fact that it was a placid Delhi track and the visitors showed better resistance.
“This might be an isolated incident where you gave the follow-on first and then you have bowled so much that you are tired. The pitch does not have that much bounce and the application is being seen in the batting. However, in my opinion, you will have to attack a little more,” Chopra observed.
West Indies were bowled out for 390 and India ended the fourth day’s play at 62-1, needing another 58 runs to win the second Test.
