"You Can Retire Him Out": Aakash Chopra Criticizes Wriddhiman Saha Performance Against KKR

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) outclassed SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a lopsided contest on Saturday to get their first points on the table. SRH captain David Warner opted to bat but his decision did not quite work out to his team’s favour. KKR displayed disciplined bowling performance to restrict SRH to 142/4 in the stipulated 20 overs.

Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra cricitcized Wriddhiman Saha for not being able to get going in the match. Saha scored 30 runs off 31 deliveries but lacked the six-hitting ability. Chopra said that Saha kept on trying but couldn’t execute and suggested that in such cases a player can be retired out.

“Pat Cummins dismissed Bairstow and then Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Warner. Manish Pandey was playing well but they sent Saha, which was a questionable call. They should have sent Priyam Garg or Abhishek Sharma before Saha because they had played the first match,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube video.

“Saha kept on trying, I love him to bits, but he was not able to strike it big. In such a case, why not retire out a batsman, why is there a stigma attached to it, even when a bowler is not doing well he is not given his full quota. I know that your intentions are good but you are not able to get going.”

KKR looked on song in the chase right from the word go. Shubman Gill opened the batting brilliantly for his franchise and kept going even after losing Sunil Narine early. Gill remained unbeaten on 70 runs off 62 deliveries as his knock was laced with five boundaries and two hits over the fence to help his side sail over the line. He was also well supported by Eoin Morgan who played a quick-fire cameo.

The headache for Warner is on a rise as SRH recorded back to back losses in the first week of IPL 2020. He might bring in Kane Williamson in the next matches with Jason Holder, replacement of Mitchell Marsh, another option for the side.