IND vs WI: Aakash Chopra Slams Hardik Pandya For Poor Captaincy Call During 1st T20I

In the wake of India’s embarrassing loss in the first T20I against West Indies, former batsman Aakash Chopra has questioned Hardik Pandya’s captaincy. The Men in Blue suffered a 4-run loss as the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first. Kyle Mayers (1) and Johnson Charles (3) failed to get going but West Indies quickly recovered and went on to post a competitive total of 149 for 6 on a tough pitch. Captain Rovman Powell led from the very front, scoring 48 off 32 balls while Nicholas Pooran scored 41. For India, Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh picked up two wickets apiece.

In reply, India finished their innings on 145 for 9. The visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals right from the start of the chase. Openers Shubman Gill (3) and Ishan Kishan (6) failed to get going and India just could not recover after the poor start. Debutant Tilak Varma was the top-scorer for the team, scoring 39 runs off 22 balls. For West Indies, Obed McCoy, Jason Holder, and Romario Shepherd picked up two wickets apiece.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Aakash Chopra criticizes Hardik Pandya’s captaincy:

Following the loss in the first T20I, former India opener Aakash Chopra has said that Hardik Pandya could not handle Chahal well during the series opener. The leg-spinner was introduced into the attack in the fifth over and he made an instant impact by dismissing the dangerous Mayers on the very first ball.

One ball later, he dismissed Brandon King too to put India on top. However, Hardik Pandya did not let the spinner complete his full quota of four overs as Chahal finished the game with figures of 2 for 24 off 3 overs. In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra criticized Hardik Pandya for the same reason, saying:

“India didn’t start that well with the ball. Then came Yuzi Chahal and he picked up two wickets in an over. After that, he was stopped. In my opinion, if Yuzi Chahal didn’t bowl four overs in yesterday’s match despite taking two wickets in his first over, you missed a trick.”

“I was a little disappointed because you were holding back his three overs. You could have dismissed Nicholas Pooran because he bowls very well to lefties but you stopped him. You said you will get him to bowl later. It was slightly surprising,” he added.

At the same time, Chopra also defended the India skipper, saying that the allrounder was probably spoilt for choice in terms of his bowling options.

“Kuldeep Yadav bowled his entire quota of overs. Axar Patel bowled only two overs because a left-hander in Nicholas Pooran was playing and he could have hit him, so you didn’t give him overs. At times you don’t know whether having too many options is a bane or a boon,” said Chopra.

India will be looking to bounce back in the second T20I that is scheduled to be played on August 6 in Guyana.