Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra is not sure if Punjab Kings will persist with all-rounder Glenn Maxwell as the all-rounder has failed to deliver the goods with the bat. PBKS is all set to take on Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Wednesday.
Maxwell has scored 48 runs in seven matches at a mundane average of eight and a strike rate of 97.95. Chopra feels PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer needs to get a big score as the openers – Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya are doing a fine job for the franchise.
The renowned commentator reckons PBKS can play Marcus Stoinis in place of struggling Glenn Maxwell.
“Shreyas Iyer scored a few runs in the last match, but you expect a bigger knock from him. This team has the most exciting opening combination. Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, the two uncapped Indians, are doing really well,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“I have got no idea what they will do with Maxi, because they have tried everything, but the guy is not performing. If he is not performing, I don’t know how they will persist with him, or will they play Marcus Stoinis because Marcus Stoinis played a mighty knock at this ground? So maybe that is what you want to do,” he added.
Chopra added that the Mohali-based franchise can not afford to lose a match at this stage of the tournament, as they can get stuck if they do so.
“Punjab lost to RCB at home. There was a break, and then they scored 200 runs, but the match got rained off. Punjab are now just outside the top four. So, at times, you feel you cannot slip now, because if you slip now, you will get stuck,” he said.
The former KKR player feels PBKS can dominate CSK with both bat and ball despite playing away from home.
“They are a solid team. They are a six-hitting team, and they are a team that can go to Chennai and hit so many sixes that they can outbat the opposition. That is also possible. In bowling also, they will put together a strong performance,” Chopra observed.
PBKS would look to come up with a collective effort against CSK.
