Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra feels the young players coming into the Indian team are ready for the top level as they get fearless after playing in the Indian Premier League. Chopra reckons earlier the players used to take time to get settled at the International level but things have changed after the emergence of the lucrative league.
The likes of Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer, and Suryakumar Yadav have performed consistently in the IPL and they have also grabbed their chances at the International level.
As the players get the opportunity to rub shoulders with and against one of the best players in the business, their rise is rapid in the IPL.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “The young players come with potential and promise. It seems like they come prepared. There was a time when a new player came to play for India, he wasn’t ready and it used to take two-and-a-half to three years to prepare the kid and players used to get lost in between at times.”
The former Indian opener added: “However, since the advent of the IPL, you may look at some pitfalls but a huge advantage is that the players who come are absolutely fearless. Whether you see Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma or Shreyas Iyer – they are all ready. So I consider it as a strength that the youngsters are absolutely ready.”
The renowned commentator added that the team’s current form is good as the players are batting at the top of their game.
“This team’s current form is very good. Whenever they play bilateral cricket, no one is able to stop them. You did drop a match recently (against the West Indies) but you generally don’t drop matches that easily. So the Indian team’s record has been very, very good.”
Furthermore, the Indian team has all the experience under their belt as they have players like Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah and they will be looking to deliver their best.
“There is a lot of experience. If you see Rohit Sharma as a captain, you see him with a huge sample size. Then Virat Kohli comes at No. 3 and you say – ‘Wow’. Then Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj have also been playing for such a long time. You will not say Kuldeep Yadav is a rookie.”
India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele on September 2.
