Aakash Chopra tears apart Rohit Sharma for misusing Ravichandran Ashwin in Bengaluru Test

After India’s crushing eight-wicket loss to New Zealand in the first Test in Bengaluru, Aakash Chopra raised questions about the tactics employed by the captain Rohit Sharma, particularly his puzzling use of the seasoned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Ravichandran Ashwin is widely regarded as India's one of the best weapons in Test cricket, but the off-spinner was barely utilized during New Zealand’s second innings, and Rohit Sharma’s decision left many baffled, including the former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra.

Aakash Chopra criticizes Ravichandran Ashwin’s late introduction in India's loss to New Zealand

New Zealand chased down a modest target of 107 runs inside 28 overs on Day 5 in Bengaluru to take a 1-0 lead in the ongoing three-match Test series against India, but it was the hosts’ approach with the ball that drew sharp criticism from the cricket pandit.

Despite New Zealand’s batting lineup featuring left-handed batters, Ravichandran Ashwin, a proven match-winner in such conditions, was brought into the attack only after the damage was almost done.

Introduced in the 25th over, when the Kiwis needed just 10 more runs to win the game, Ravichandran Ashwin bowled just two overs, conceding six runs without taking a wicket at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

With the stakes high and the match slipping away, Rohit Sharma’s reluctance to turn to Ashwin early on has been labeled a missed opportunity by the commentator. Ashwin’s prowess against left-handers is well-known to all, so keeping him away earlier on Day 5 raised many eyebrows.

It was not understandable at all: Aakash Chopra slams Rohit Sharma's captaincy

Indian captain Rohit Sharma's this call left many wondering whether they failed to capitalize on a match-winning resource. Aakash Chopra noted that Ashwin should have bowled after Jasprit Bumrah’s spell to apply pressure, but Team India decided to stick with Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja.

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel: “No doubt the runs were less, but we didn't get Ashwin to bowl at all. I am not saying we would have won the match if Ashwin had bowled, but we didn't get him to bowl. That was surprising, and how. Why was Ashwin not bowled?

I don't have an answer for that because, if you see his numbers, he is your team's best bowler. No one has taken more wickets than him in Test matches. Left-handers were playing, but you still didn't get him to bowl. It was not understandable at all.”

'Rohit bhai, what did you do?'

The cricket pundit said that Jasprit Bumrah's long spell was understandable because only two wickets fell and he took both. Chopra further noted that Mohammed Siraj was bowling well with the new ball, but Rohit could have brought back Ravindra Jadeja or Ravichandran Ashwin first, but he used the off-spinner as the fifth option, which is beyond his understanding.

Chopra signed off by saying, “The match was over. There was no life left in the match. 15 or 20 runs were left, and you called him to bowl. It would have been better if you hadn't bowled him at all. This question should have been asked in the post-match press conference: 'Rohit bhai, what did you do?'. I thought India definitely missed a trick, and it is beyond my understanding why he wasn't bowled.”