Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons Moeen Ali could be a thorn in India’s flesh in the all-important 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final against England. Ali has scalped three wickets in four innings at an average of 24.33 and an economy rate of 8.11 in the ongoing T20I showpiece.
Furthermore, he has scored 63 runs in four innings at an average of 15.75 and a strike rate of 153.65. Meanwhile, Ali has scored 80 runs in seven innings against India in T20Is whereas he has picked up seven wickets in eight innings.
Meanwhile, Chopra reckons England skipper Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, and Harry Brook could be the dangerous batters for India.
“Who could be the threats from the opposing team? Firstly the two openers, whose numbers are not that good against left-arm spin. Then Axar Patel is an important player. You can concentrate more on him. You can focus on Ravindra Jadeja because they are having difficulties against left-arm spin,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra believes Ali’s off-spin could trouble India as the team has four left-handers in the starting XI.
“After that, Harry Brook in batting, and I feel Moeen Ali is a player who can trouble us. He will bowl off-spin and we have four left-handers. Actually not even four, we have Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh,” the former India opener added.
The reputed commentator also noted that Ali has a good record while playing against spin.
“Did we have these many left-handers before this? Since there are so many left-handers, Moeen Ali might have a role, and if we talk about playing spin, Moeen Ali plays spin better. So Moeen Ali could be that dangerous guy. He is this team’s vice-captain,” he observed.
Speaking about England’s bowling, the former Delhi batter feels Chris Jordan and Sam Curran could hold the key against India. Chopra also highlighted that in-form Adil Rashid will be the key for England.
“Chris Jordan came back in the last match and took a hat-trick as soon as he came. It seemed like his career had been put on ice. He was pulled out from there and he picked up four wickets. Sam Curran isn’t doing that well but he will like this kind of pitch, where he will roll his fingers over the ball,” he said.
“Liam Livingstone’s bowling and batting is a slightly tricky thing. Jofra Archer hasn’t looked that great but he is a wicket-taker and he knows these grounds well. Reece Topley/Mark Wood – don’t know who will play. Adil Rashid had trapped us (in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final) and forced us to hit in one direction,” Chopra stated.
India will take on England in the second semifinal at the Providence Stadium, Guyana on Thursday.
