"Starting Point Was Probably Slightly Defensive" - Aakash Chopra Slams India's Decision To Play On Slow Pitch

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that playing on a black-soil surface was the reason for the team’s loss in the ICC World Cup 2023 final. Aakash Chopra suggested that India may have conceded an advantage to Australia by opting for a spin-friendly pitch.

The Men in Blue failed to continue their winning streak as they suffered a six-wicket loss at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, November 19. The Indian batters struggled to score in challenging conditions and managed to post a total of 240 runs.

You Got Stuck In Your Own Web – Aakash Chopra

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra criticized the defensive approach, stating that the pitch selection shouldn’t have been a concern if the team was confident. Chopra suggested that the pitch might have hindered India’s ability to play freely.

“I feel India conceded a point right at the start. India probably would have had the choice of pitch they wanted to play on. The Indian team chose the black-soil pitch, where there will be a lot of help for spin. However, the starting point was probably slightly defensive,” Chopra said.

“We shouldn’t have even needed to think about the sort of pitch we should have played on against Australia. If you get to bat first, the pitch shouldn’t be one that doesn’t allow you to play with freedom. When you chose a dry black-soil pitch, you got stuck in your own web, if you think in that way,” he added.

Australia Showed That It By Doing It – Aakash Chopra

The cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out that the Pat Cummins-led team demonstrated superiority in handling pressure effectively and playing fearlessly during the final against India.

“The final encounters are driven by two factors. The first is that a team that makes fewer mistakes generally finds themselves in better situations. They are the teams that absorb pressure. The others are the ones who dare to play fearlessly,” Chopra further added.

“So these are two big factors. If you do handle these two factors well, no one can stop you from winning. That doesn’t guarantee you success but you will win tomorrow if not today, because you are a winner if you have these two qualities. Australia showed that by doing it.”

Also read: “Itna Confidence Toh Australian Public Ko…” – Aakash Chopra Mocks Pakistani Fans