India vs Australia: “All-rounders won’t help”, Aakash Chopra points out the problem with the Indian team
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The India vs Australia series didn’t start on a good note for the Men in Blue. India lost the first two ODIs handing the Aussies an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. It also exposed the loopholes in the Indian bowling attack which has not been up to the mark on the foreign soil.
The ODI on Sunday, was the third consecutive match where the opposition posted a 100-run opening stand against India. Many opinions were expressed saying there weren’t enough all-rounders in the team. However, former India opener Aakash Chopra stated on his YouTube channel that the bowlers’ inability to pick wickets early on is a bigger concern than the lack of all-rounders in the line-up.
“If we look at the Indian bowling, it’s clear that we are unable to pick wickets with the new ball. How much time has gone? In the last three consecutive ODI matches, India has conceded a 100-run partnership at the top between the two openers,” Chopra said in his YouTube video.
“If you don’t take wickets with the new ball, a wicket does not fall in the first 20-odd overs, then whomever you bowl doesn’t make a difference,” he added.
‘We saw Hardik Pandya bowling but it was too late’ – Chopra
Hardik Pandya returned to bowling after a year’s gap in the 2nd ODI. He even took the wicket of Steve Smith. However, Aakash Chopra stated that if the strike bowlers aren’t able to pick wickets, an extra bowling option won’t help.
“Although we saw Hardik Pandya bowling but it was too late. He took a wicket as well, he dismissed Steve Smith. But if your top bowlers don’t take wickets, what will the 6th, 7th or 8th option do,” he said.
“So, this is a problem which is getting magnified by the lack of an all-rounder but first of all, how many of them do we have? And even if they available, where will you play them? If you don’t take wickets at the top, it is not going to help in the middle, doesn’t matter how many all-rounders you play,” he added.
The third and final India vs Australia ODI will take place at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on December 2.
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