Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has urged Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad to score runs in the second ODI against South Africa. Chopra said he is not sure when the duo will get their chance in ODIs as Jaiswal is playing in place of captain Shubman Gill whereas Gaikwad has received his opportunity after vice-captain Shreyas Iyer was ruled out.
While Jaiswal scored 18 runs in the opening game, Gaikwad was dismissed after scoring only eight runs. Chopra noted that the team management is throwing players in uncomfortable zones as they are asking them to bat at unnatural positions.
“Yashasvi and Ruturaj, please score runs, because one guy is playing in the captain’s place and the other guy is playing in the vice-captain’s place. For how long will the captain and vice-captain stay out? They won’t remain out for long. So Yashasvi against left-armers, whether it’s Marco Jansen or Nandre Burger, please score runs,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“There is just one more opportunity after this. We don’t know when you will get a chance in ODIs or T20Is after that. It’s a very important opportunity for you. The same is true for Ruturaj Gaikwad. He is being made to bat at No. 4. Are we setting people up to fail? Every time they are getting an opportunity, they are outside their comfort zone,” he added.
The renowned commentator highlighted that Gaikwad hasn’t received his opportunities like all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.
“Are we actually doing that? It seems like that to me for Ruturaj and at times for Nitish Kumar Reddy as well. We are sending Ruturaj at No. 4, but No. 4 is not his usual number. So I really hope that he also scores runs because he too will have only one more opportunity,” Chopra observed.
Meanwhile, India’s stand-in captain KL Rahul batted at number six and Chopra reckons the wicket-keeper bat should promote himself to number five but he won’t do that.
“I won’t even say now that Rahul should go at No. 5. I want you to go to No. 5, but you won’t. You need a left-hander in the middle, even if Yashasvi Jaiswal continues to bat. So you will see yourself at No. 6 only, and I feel there is no scope for a change in the team,” he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator backed the team management to play with the same bowling line-up in the second game.
“Play Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja), he also batted well in the end. Play Kuldeep Yadav, you won the match because of him. Harshit Rana was absolutely outstanding. So play him, and play Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna as well,” Chopra observed.
The second ODI between India and South Africa will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur on Wednesday.
