ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Shardul Thakur Should Play Ahead Of Bhuvneshwar Kumar Against Pakistan, Opines Aakash Chopra

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of the best bowlers who used to give the team early breakthroughs and turned the game in the death overs. Bhuvneshwar has twice won the Purple Cap in IPL in 2016 and 2017 and also has been India’s reliable bowler in the death overs.

The 31-year-old bowler’s form dipped in IPL 2021 and didn’t get enough wickets, having picked just six wickets from 11 games.

Even in the warm-up game against England on Monday, the 31-year-old bowler went expensive as he conceded 54 runs and returned wicketless.

All-rounder Shardul Thakur, who recently replaced spin bowler Axar Patel in India’s main squad for T20 World Cup, seems a promising pace bowler for India.

Thakur ended with 21 wickets from 16 games in CSK’s victorious campaign in IPL 2021.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is not looking a patch of his usual self: Aakash Chopra

Cricket commentator Aakash Chopra wants Shardul to play ahead of Bhuvneshwar against Pakistan.

“Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been expensive. He is not looking a patch of his usual self. He has a lot of experience, but I am not 100% convinced that you can play him in the XI against Pakistan. I will be thinking about Shardul Thakur,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

I see Varun Chakravarthy playing ahead of Rahul Chahar against Pakistan: Aakash Chopra

Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy are the two wrist spinners in the 15-member squad, with Ashwin as the standalone off-spinner.

Chahar was also hammered for 43 runs against England in the practice match, where he managed to get the wicket of Dawid Malan.

Chopra feels that Chakravarthy could play ahead of Chahar in India’s first match against Pakistan.

“Rahul Chahar was very expensive. That means I see Varun Chakravarthy playing the next match and against Pakistan. Ravichandran Ashwin bowled well, bowled off-spin as well in the first couple of overs but will you see him playing as the third spinner if three play,” Chopra said.

India will play against Pakistan in their first game of the Super 12 stage on October 24 in Dubai.

Also Read: Aakash Chopra Expresses Concerns Over Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Form Ahead Of T20 World Cup