Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has questioned Suryakumar Yadav’s strategy of using Jasprit Bumrah for three straight overs in the Asia Cup. Once again, Bumrah bowled three consecutive overs in the Powerplay in the Super Fours clash against Bangladesh at Dubai on Wednesday.
After leaking runs against Pakistan, Bumrah was right on the money, returning with figures of 1-17 in his first three overs as he troubled Bangladesh’s left-handers with outswinging deliveries. Overall, Bumrah returned with impressive figures of 2-18 in his quota of four overs.
However, Chopra reckons there will be instances when Bumrah’s two overs will be needed towards the fag end of the innings but feels India is now unlikely to change their approach.
“It’s now confirmed that Bumrah will always bowl three overs (in the powerplay). He bowled well this time, picked up a wicket as well, but the funda of three is slightly beyond my understanding,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“However, the Indian team said, ‘You don’t know anything. If we decide that Bumrah will bowl three, he will bowl three.’ It was fine this time, but there might come a time when they would have a slight difficulty. That is also a reality,” he added.
On the other hand, Kuldeep Yadav continued his rich form, bagging 3-18 in his four overs against the Tigers. Furthermore, Varun Chakravarthy took 2-29 in his quota of overs, and Chopra said the spin twins have been phenomenal.
“Spin twins, they have been absolutely outstanding – Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy. They showed their quality. An odd match can sometimes go bad. You might get hit slightly. However, Bangladesh’s lack of skills was clearly visible. They weren’t able to read spin from the hand and were only trying to hit sixes,” he said.
Chopra noted that Bangladesh opener Saif Hasan played a fighting knock of 69 runs but praised Kuldeep and Varun for their match-winning spells.
“Only Saif Hasan was successful in hitting sixes. He is playing extremely well. He has scored two successive half-centuries. He hit five sixes as well, was left alone in the end, although he got a few lives, but our spin twins razed the opposition team to the ground,” Chopra observed.
India will take on Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Friday.
