Aakash Chopra makes a big U-TURN on Hardik Pandya-Tilak Varma controversy, defends India captain for his move to prioritize team’s success

Aakash Chopra had earlier criticized Pandya for denying Tilak Varma a half-century.

Aakash Chopra makes a big U-TURN on Hardik Pandya-Tilak Varma controversy, defends India captain for his move to prioritize team’s success

Aakash Chopra, Hardik Pandya (Images via YouTube, News18)

In a recent cricket controversy, India’s stand-in T20I captain Hardik Pandya was criticized for denying Tilak Varma a well-deserved half-century in the third T20I against West Indies. As India reached its 160-run target, this incident occurred. Tilak was one run away from his fifty, and India needed two runs in 14 balls to win. Pandya, known for his aggressive batting, opted to secure the victory over West Indies with a six, leaving Tilak on 49*.

Commentator and former Indian opener Aakash Chopra jumped in on the debate by defending Pandya’s decision by emphasizing that he need not imitate the former captain’s actions, even though MS Dhoni is his icon.

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Chopra recalled a similar incident from the semifinals of the 2014 T20 World Cup, when Dhoni was seen playing a defensive shot to prevent scoring the winning run, thereby allowing Virat Kohli to be the star of the match. He emphasized that while Dhoni’s altruistic approach was admirable, Pandya has his own manner and should not feel compelled to imitate it.

“It’s an interesting one. Hardik Pandya has been trolled a lot and has been criticized. But there’s another school of thought that says, why are you talking about milestones in T20 cricket? So, that was quite in the middle of a conversation”, Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel (via Times of India). Interestingly, Chopra himself had taken aim at Pandya on his YouTube channel.

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Debate among cricket fans regarding Hardik Pandya’s move

Hardik Pandya Tilak Varma
Hardik Pandya denied Tilak Varma a fifty (Image via Wisden)

Aakash Chopra acknowledged all the different opinions on the subject. While some criticized Pandya for denying Varma a milestone, others questioned about the importance of individual milestones in T20 cricket. Pandya’s decision to attempt the winning shot despite Varma’s half-century led to India’s seven-wicket victory, which kept the series alive.

Nonetheless, the incident sparked debates among supporters and analysts. Chopra emphasized that although Pandya has received criticism, he must recognize that he does not need to adopt Dhoni’s leadership approach if he acknowledges Dhoni as his mentor.

In conclusion, the cricketing community debated Hardik Pandya’s decision to prioritize team success over individual achievements. Aakash Chopra’s opinion defended Pandya’s action and highlighted the various views on the matter.

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