IND vs NZ: "Why Do Our Batters Don't Bowl?" - Aakash Chopra Shares His Thoughts On Team India's Selection Conundrum

In the third and final One Day International (ODI) in the bilateral series against New Zealand on Wednesday, Team India, captained by Shikhar Dhawan and without Rohit Sharma, will want to even the score.

Several high-profile figures have been busy generating headlines during India’s tour of New Zealand, from Sanju Samson’s dubious dismissal to first-choice wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant’s terrible record in the limited-overs format. Power-hitter was ordered to warm the bench in the second One-Day International despite playing an important knock for the Men in Blue. 

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The Batters Not Bowling Is A Big Problem: Aakash Chopra

India sought a sixth bowling option in their squad against the Black Caps, according to stand-in skipper Dhawan, who explained the decision to remove Samson from the starting XI. As a result, all-rounder Deepak Hooda had to replace wicketkeeper-batter Samson in the second ODI, which was ultimately abandoned owing to the heavy rain.

Former opener Aakash Chopra shared his thoughts regarding the selection conundrum on YouTube and recounted how batting legends Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar used to support the Men In Blue’s striking bowlers. 

“Why do our batters don’t bowl? The likes of Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar used to bowl but now no one bowls. The batters have completely stopped bowling in the nets, they either bat or field and then they leave. So it is a big problem,” Chopra said. 

India’s Usage Of Side-Armers For Practice Causing Difficulty In Producing Part-time Bowlers: Aakash Chopra

The team’s difficulty in producing part-time bowlers was also explained by the former opener and full-time cricket analyst.

“Now the Indian team takes four net bowlers along with them everywhere and then there are two who throw with the side-arm. So the bowlers’ batting is improving because they bat against the side-armers, both the batters and bowlers are doing the same thing,” he added.

Earlier, former cricketer Wasim Jaffer also sparked a debate about the dearth of all-rounders and part-timers in Team India.

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