Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra expressed his surprise that Mayank Yadav played only two matches against New Zealand despite bowling well. Yadav scalped four wickets in two games of the series at an average of 22 and an economy rate of 11.
The fast bowler from Delhi played the opening game and then played the fourth game of the series when Bhuvneshwar Kumar was dropped from the playing XI.
After India sealed the series by 3-2, Chopra urged the team management to reveal their plans for Mayank Yadav.
Aakash Chopra said on Cricinfo, “He may have picked up a niggle for all we know. We have no idea. So once we don’t know, we don’t want to speculate. But yes, it is a bit of a surprise. Hopefully, at some stage, somebody will ask the question and we’ll have an answer that this is the plan for Mayank Yadav. He’s coming back into this team.
“How many bowlers in this country bowl at 150 clicks? He’s capable of doing that. His comeback is looking quite good, to be fair. He was the pick of the bowlers when he played. Mayank Yadav is back for good is what you think. Because the only thing that was stopping him from playing for India regularly was his injury and his rehab,” Chopra added.
The renowned commentator admitted that India had a inexperienced bowling attack in the T20I series.
He concluded, “When you look at the Indian fast bowling attack, it was a little inexperienced. You had Mayank, you had Prince. Both are quite young and quite raw in terms of their international experience. India did not play the spinners. Axar Patel is not really picking the wickets right now. So, if that is the territory that you’re operating, I don’t think you’re going to actually dismiss the opposition completely.”
India will next take on New Zealand in a five-match ODI series.
