Ravi Bishnoi is being treated unfairly: Aakash Chopra rips into Gautam Gambhir

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra wasn't happy with Ravi Bishnoi not getting the opportunity to play in the first T20I against the Bangladesh National Cricket Team. He said that the leg-spinner hasn't been treated fairly despite him performing consistently for the team.

India National Cricket Team is currently taking on Bangladesh National Cricket Team in the three-match T20I series. The first game of the series took place on Sunday (6th October) and the Suryakumar Yadav-led side went with two spinners and two pacers along with all-rounders.

India didn't play Ravi Bishnoi in the first T20I against Bangladesh

India went with Varun Chakaravarthy, who made his return to the team after the T20 World Cup 2021, and Washington Sundar as two frontline spinners in the team, leaving Bishnoi, who has performed sensationally well in the limited opportunities that he has got.

Bishnoi has played 32 T20Is for the India National Cricket Team and has picked 48 wickets at an economy rate of 7.29 in 32 T20Is. He played regularly for the team but wasn't picked for the team in the T20 World Cup 2024 as Yuzvendra Chahal was picked ahead of him.

I feel he is not being treated fairly - Ravi Bishnoi

Aakash Chopra believes that Bishnoi has been the top performer for India in the T20Is. He said that as soon as the team wants to drop anyone, the leg-spinner is the first name on the list. Speaking about the same in the video YouTube channel, he explained:

"I feel he is not being treated fairly because if you see the list of players who have done well for India since he started playing, you will find that Ravi Bishnoi's performances have been very good. Arshdeep (Singh) is at No. 1 but Bishnoi is not too far behind.

"Then as soon as someone needs to be dropped, you drop him. To be fair, we are not fair on any leg-spinner. We haven't played Yuzi (Yuzvendra) Chahal in any World Cup to date. You don't play him even if he is in the team. Similarly, we are not playing Ravi Bishnoi although he has been consistently doing well."

Here also, when there was a chance, Varun (Chakaravarthy) played first and Ravi Bishnoi didn't - Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra further said that India had the opportunity to play Bishnoi in the first T20I in Bangladesh but instead went with Varun Chakaravarthy. He also questioned what reasoning might have been given to Ravi Bishnoi for playing others ahead of him. He elaborated:

"Here also, when there was a chance, Varun (Chakaravarthy) played first and Bishnoi didn't. I do get it that I was saying that Varun should be played. If you get someone after three years, he should be played. But if you do that, what would you be telling Bishnoi?"

"The selection is not only for the 15. You also have it for the XI after that. If you have selected someone in the 15, you say you have to play him for justice, but one man's loss is another man's opportunity. If only one guy keeps bearing the loss, he would ask why me," he concluded.