"If You Reach The Final, Be Happy That You Reached The Final" - Aakash Chopra Slams Indian Players For Not Skipping IPL Ahead Of WTC Final

Cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra admitted that the lack of preparation had an impact on India’s performance in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Aakash Chopra highlighted that he can’t see Indian players skipping the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches.

The Rohit Sharma-led team suffered a 209-run loss against Australia in the recent World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Oval in London in June. Following the loss, skipper Rohit Sharma admitted that the team would have preferred to have 20-25 days of preparation before such big matches.

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I Don’t Expect A Radical Change – Aakash Chopra

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra highlighted that Australian players had participated in the County Championship prior to the WTC final.

“There is no doubt about that. They (Australian players) were all playing county and had befriended those conditions already and we reached there for just one match. You will never get more time than this. Like it, hate it, live with it,” Chopra said.

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“If you reach the final, be happy that you reached the final. If you want to win after that, I don’t expect a radical change.

There are discussions that players should decide whether they should leave the IPL season or the BCCI asking the IPL franchises not to play their players, I don’t think that is going to happen,” he added.

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Why Not For The WTC Final? – Aakash Chopra

The former Indian opener suggested that the winner of the WTC final should be determined through a three-match series, highlighting other major events.

“It should happen 100%. I don’t understand just the one match. You go to a neutral venue, it is a two-year-long tournament and you otherwise say that the Test format is best and closest to your heart, then play more matches,” he further stated.

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“You are able to make a window for the IPL, the Ashes is a five-match series and a window is created, and you make a window for the World Cup as well. If you can make a window for everything, why not for the WTC final?” he concluded.

The Men in Blue will be eager to end their ICC Trophy drought and secure victory in the upcoming ODI World Cup at home. The tournament is set to take place in India between October and November.

Also read: Ashes 2023: “For That Ball To Be Considered Dead After The Over Or Even After The Delivery” – Simon Taufel On Jonny Bairstow’s Dismissal

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