Asia Cup 2018: Aakash Chopra Surprised to Not See Krunal Pandya in the India Squad

Updated - 20 Sep 2018, 07:48 PM

Krunal Pandya, Baroda, Ranji Trophy 2018-19

Krunal Pandya Image Courtesy: Getty

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Former India opener and a current broadcaster and a commentator, Aakash Chopra was surprised to see Krunal Pandya being left out of the India squad after three of the members of the Asia Cup squad had to bow out of the tournament due to their respective injuries. Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel and Shardul Thakur has already been ruled out of the tournament and the BCCI have announced Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar and Siddharth Kaul as their respective replacements.

Younger of Pandya brothers, Hardik had to leave the field in the 18^th over of Pakistan’s batting due to acute lower back spasms. He looked in pain and had to stretchered off the field. Hardik was not able to take any further part in the match. Meanwhile, Axar Patel sustained an injury while fielding as a substitute. He injured his index finger while fielding and scans revealed that he had a tendon tear. Axar will now make way for Ravindra Jadeja.

Krunal Pandya, India, Asia Cup 2018 — Aakash Chopra was surprised to see Krunal Pandya being left out of the squad. Credits: BCCI

Meanwhile, hip and groin scenes have ruled Shardul Thakur out of the tournament. The medium pacer played in the 1^st game against Hong Kong. However, he has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament and Siddharth Kaul has been named as his replacement.

“All-rounder Hardik Pandya suffered an acute lower back spasm during the game against Pakistan and is undergoing treatment and assessment by the BCCI medical team. He will be unavailable for the remainder of the series. Deepak Chahar will replace Hardik Pandya in the squad,” a BCCI statement said.

Aakash Chopra wanted Krunal Pandya to be included in the squad. He is a real asset to any team. However, it seems that Krunal isn’t in the scheme of things for the 2019 World Cup. He was recently called up in the T20I series in England. However, he hasn’t made his T20I debut yet.

“I was expecting the senior Pandya brother to get a call. Not to be. Looks like he isn’t in the scheme of things for the World Cup,” Aakash Chopra wrote on his Twitter handle. Krunal Pandya will definitely play for India in the near future. However, as of now, Krunal hasn’t got a look in the 50 overs format and has to wait some more time.

India, Asia Cup 2018 — Hardik Pandya was stretchered of the field after sustaining the injury. Credits: AP

I was expecting the senior Pandya brother to get a call. Not to be. Looks like he isn’t in the scheme of things for the World Cup. #AsiaCup

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 20, 2018