Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has questioned India’s playing XI despite hosts’ 15-run win against England in the fourth T20I at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Friday. India continued with their strategy of playing with only one main fast bowler in the final XI in the series.
While India played Arshdeep Singh in the first two matches, Mohammed Shami made a comeback after a long time in the third game. In the fourth T20I, Shami made way for Arshdeep Singh whereas Shivam Dube replaced Washington Sundar in the final XI.
Hardik Pandya has been sharing the new ball in the ongoing series but Chopra is not impressed with India’s selection.
“From the team I had picked yesterday, there was only one change. I am still screaming, it’s said that we should never blow our own trumpet, but you should have played two fast bowlers. I had kept Mohammed Shami in my team. They kept Mohammed Shami out,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“Of course, you want to attack with spin, but I am clearly saying repeatedly that in white-ball cricket, there is no ground across the world where you can’t play two fast bowlers. Game plans aside, there is no pitch where you can say that one fast bowler is enough, and will get Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube or Nitish Dube to bowl as the second seamer,” Chopra added.
Meanwhile, Harshit Rana was used as a concussion sub after Jamie Overton hit Shivam Dube on the head. Rana returned with impressive figures of 3-33 in his debut T20I and Chopra noted that the fast bowler played a key hand in India’s success.
“There is no pitch like that unless you make a rank turner. However, the pitch wasn’t like that. So the game plan is still slightly beyond my understanding. Harshit Rana came and corrected your wrong,” Chopra observed.
The reputed commentator highlighted that Rana was needed by the team in the second innings but shared his surprise over his exclusion in the starting XI.
“You missed a fast bowler and that’s why you brought Harshit Rana in. Harshit picked up three wickets and you got him to bowl four overs. It means you need another fast bowler but you are consistently not playing him. You didn’t play (Mohammed) Shami this time and played Arshdeep (Singh),” he said.
The fifth and final T20I of the series will be played at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday.
