IND vs IRE: Aakash Chopra Tears Apart Hardik Pandya For Underutilizing Axar Patel In 5th T20I

Aakash Chopra, the former Indian opener, attacked Hardik Pandya for not using Axar Patel in the fifth and final T20I match against West Indies on Sunday (August 13).

Hardik Pandya-led India went to bat first and set a target of 166 runs after Suryakumar Yadav hammered a half-century. However, star Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill failed to make a mark.

In the second inning, the Caribbean batsmen Brandon King and Nicholas Pooran set a partnership of 107 runs which helped the host to clinch a series win against India. The Men in Blue bowling attack failed to take wickets which cost them an eight-wicket defeat.

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While talking about the match on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra questioned Hardik Pandya for not using Axar Patel properly and giving him only one over to bowl.

“When you came to bowl here, absolutely new story. Axar Patel was bowling the first over in the last match and in this match, Axar Patel bowled one over in total. The way Axar Patel has been used, we really don’t know,” told Akash Chopra.

The 45-year-old said that it felt like the Men in Blue were in the field with 10 players instead of 11 players just because Hardik Pandya did not use Axar Patel properly.

“You are saying that you will get Kuldeep Yadav to bowl if Nicholas Pooran comes, or else you will get Axar to complete his overs. What will you do if Nicholas Pooran comes up the order? He came up the order when Arshdeep Singh dismissed Kyle Mayers once again. Axar Patel is not being used at all. It almost seems like we played with 10 players,” added Akash Chopra.

You didn’t bowl Mukesh Kumar a single over: Aakash Chopra questioned Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya was questioned by the former India player for bowling with the new ball and not giving the over to Mukesh Kumar.

“Hardik Pandya was bowling with the new ball, which he was not doing otherwise, and he got hit this time. You didn’t bowl Mukesh Kumar a single over with the new ball in the entire series although he picked up wickets in the one ODI you bowled him with the new ball,” Aakash Chopra further added.

After losing the T20I series against West Indies by 3-2, the Men in Blue will be focusing on the forthcoming three-match T20I series against Ireland which will begin on Friday (August 18).