Aakash Chopra Gives Ratings To India's Eleven In The WTC Final Loss vs New Zealand

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra gives his rating points to the performances of the eleven Indian players in the loss to New Zealand in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Southampton. The Kiwis handed the Asian giants an 8-wickets loss claiming the maiden WTC mace.

India’s batting was a major disappointment, Cheteshwar Pujara in particular as he scored 8 and 15 in the two innings; Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Rishabh Pant registered a 40+ score in one of the two innings, while failed in the other.

On the bowling front, Jasprit Bumrah’s wicketless game – a catch off him was dropped by Pujara though – was an anomaly.

Aakash Chopra gives his remarks and ratings to Indian players:

Rohit Sharma: “I will give Rohit 6/10. He got starts in both innings. I will say the glass is half full because Rohit saw off the new ball in both innings, the most difficult thing in SENA countries. He was opening for the first time in Test cricket in England, do not ever underestimate what Rohit Sharma has done,” Aakash Chopra said on his Youtube channel.

Shubman Gill: “Shubman Gill helped Rohit Sharma in the first innings but got out early in the second innings. Just 4/10, I was thinking 3 or 3.5 but four because he took a good catch of Ross Taylor diving to his right.”

Cheteshwar Pujara: “Cheteshwar Pujara, one he dropped a catch in the slips, not that it would have made a difference to the match. His batting in both innings you expect more runs from Cheteshwar. In this game, I am going 2/10.”

Virat Kohli: “Virat Kohli 5/10 for the simple reason that the first innings was good but more was expected from him in the second innings. You will compare Kohli with Kane, and Kane did the job in both innings.”

Ajinkya Rahane: “Ajinkya Rahane did score 49 runs in the first innings. He got out playing a bad shot. You can say that he was unfortunate in the second innings but he never looked comfortable. I have given him 5/10.”

Rishabh Pant: “Pant is also 5/10. He scored 41 runs in the 2nd innings but the most promising student is also going to get scolded. The way he got out, the careless and carefree debate will always be there. I was expecting more from Pant.”

Ravindra Jadeja: “Jadeja 3/10. You are batting at No.7. There was more expectation from your batting in both innings, more so in the 2nd innings. You took one wicket while bowling, there was more expectation of wickets as well in the second innings.”

Ravichandran Ashwin: “Ravichandran Ashwin 6/10. He did okay with the ball. He broke the opening partnership in the first innings, took two wickets in the second innings, the two wickets we got. He scored 21 runs in the 1st innings but played a bad shot in the 2nd innings.”

Mohammed Shami: “Shami gets 7/10. Shami bowled well, he was the one to bring you back in the match. He took four wickets and in a good fashion.”

Ishant Sharma: “Ishant Sharma gets 6/10. I expected more from him in the 2nd innings, I thought he was phenomenal in the first innings.”

Jasprit Bumrah: “Bumrah is just 3/10. There was a catch dropped off his bowling in the 2nd innings but nothing like that happened in the first innings. Jasprit Bumrah going wicketless in a Test match, it doesn’t happen very often but it happened in this match,” Aakash Chopra concluded.

Next up, the Test side takes on hosts England in a 5-Test series starting August 4 at Trent Bridge, and concludes mid-September in Manchester. A second-string white-ball side will tour Sri Lanka for 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is in July.

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