IND vs SL: Shivam Mavi Will Have To Go If Arshdeep Singh Is Available, Aakash Chopra Says Ahead Of 2nd T20I

Indian young pacer Shivam Mavi made a sensational debut in the first T20I of the three-match series, where India beat Sri Lanka by two runs in a thrilling encounter to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Former India cricketer Akash Chopra believes Shivam Mavi will not play in the second T20I if Arshdeep Singh is available for selection.

Arshdeep missed the first game as he had not fully recovered from an illness, and Mavi grabbed the opportunity with both hands as he took 4 wickets for 22 runs in his four overs. The 24-year-old produced early breakthroughs with the new ball, dismissing Pathum Nissanka and Dhananjaya de Silva in his first spell.

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Harshal And Umran Malik Are In This Pecking Order – Aakash Chopra

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Akash Chopra said Mavi will have to make a way if Arshdeep is fit to play, despite his match-winning performance in the first T20I. The former India opener said that Harshal Patel and Umran are in the pecking order and should not be dropped.

“Who will go out if Arshdeep is fit? Will the Player of the Match of the first game be dropped, as it happened in the second Test against Bangladesh? Kuldeep did not play there, will Shivam Mavi not play here? The big question is whether Mavi should be kept or left out. Mavi will have to go if Arshdeep is available.”

“You will say why – because what is the long-term vision, there is a process. The process is that Arshdeep is the first guy. Harshal and Umran Malik are in this pecking order. If Mavi had come, Mavi only will have to go out, however unfortunate it might be. I feel Arshdeep will not be available, Mavi will play and do well also on this pitch.”

Umran Malik Is Changing The Combination – Aakash Chopra

Chopra emphasized that Umran Malik is playing a role that spinners used to play in the middle overs. The former cricketer-commentator said that Hardik Pandya’s bowling with the new ball has affected the team’s balance.

“The spin bowling was a problem in the last match and can be a problem here as well. There are six bowlers and when Hardik bowls well with the new ball, a spinner’s overs are cut. Umran Malik is a player who is changing the combination.”

“Earlier you used to get the spinners in the middle overs. You used to try to squeeze and pick up wickets but here you have a player named Umran Malik, who comes in the middle overs and picks up wickets.”

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