T20 World Cup 2021: Aakash Chopra Questions West Indies' Intent Ahead Of Crucial Super 12 Match Against South Africa

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra was unimpressed with West Indies’ performance against England a few days ago and stated that they need to turn up big time if they are to defend their T20 World Cup title. The Windies will play against South Africa in today’s day game in Dubai.

Ahead of the encounter, Chopra reviewed the chances of either team. He revealed that the Windies’ side function on two extremes – either bat their opponents out of the game or crumble as they did against England. Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra said:

“It is an encounter between two sides who lost their first matches. South Africa lost after a great fight but West Indies, the defending champions, we don’t know if they have actually come for the T20 World Cup or have come on a tourist visa to Dubai.“

“We don’t know which West Indies team will come to play. It is a team which we have been repeatedly saying that if they score can make 225 runs and if not, they won’t make even 125 and that is what happened in the last match – they made 55 in total.“

“It was reeking of arrogance at some stage” – Aakash Chopra

While it is well-known that West Indies have some of the biggest hitters in the game, a lack of responsibility in their batsmen can prove to be their undoing. Against England, none of the Windies players were willing to dig in and grind out a score but instead went for their shots despite knowing that their team is in crisis.

“It was reeking of arrogance at some stage. It looked like every guy was saying that runs will get scored, we are the champions and play T20 very easily. They have collected a team of aged men, which has Ravi Rampaul, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle – they have been playing for such a long time. Even if you see Lendl Simmons.

“You might give them a chance again if they play in a bold and carefree fashion. If the professionalism, processes, and everything else that goes right, I feel South Africa will trouble them because they will push them to the back foot with their bowling,” Chopra concluded.

The Caribbean players cannot be ruled out of any game, however, especially in the T20 format where they have multiple players who can change the course of the game at any time.

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