Aakash Chopra, a cricket pundit, is advising India against creating rank turners for their imminent Test series against England. He emphasizes the potential pitfalls of such a strategy.
The teams are set to go head-to-head in a series of five Test matches. The opening game is due in Hyderabad this Thursday, January 25. We’re yet to see if India will stick with their recent trend of consistently preparing square turners.
Chopra, who previews the series in a video published on his YouTube channel, was not in favor of Rohit Sharma and crew developing rank turners, reasoning:
“The match has a few big threads. The biggest thread is how the pitch should be. Should rank turners be made? I am saying and have been saying for a long time – you lost the World Cup final also due to your obsession with the pitch. Preparing a pitch favoring you cost you the finals.”
Aakash Chopra
The former India opener further stated that the curator should only be requested to construct a result-oriented pitch. He said:
“You might say this is a different format. It’s not about the format but the habit. You become complacent. Just give one instruction to the curator – make a pitch that yields a result. It shouldn’t be a road-like pitch.”
Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra asserted that regardless of the field, India is the superior unit when man-to-man marking is used. He further stated that any pitch made in India will ultimately turn.
“The scales are obviously tilted towards India and they will only win this series” – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra projected a resounding victory for India in the five-match series, saying:
“The scales are obviously tilted towards India and they will only win this series. The question is whether it would be 4-0, 5-0 or 4-1. However, which match will they (England) win and how will they take 20 wickets because the spin attack is extremely weak?”
Aakash Chopra
The reputable expert believes the hosts may take advantage of England’s poor spin assault if the surfaces do not help the spinners too much. He said:
“I don’t see any might in the spin bowling. So, if you don’t make turning pitches, you can score 500 runs against them at least thrice over the course of the series and maybe more. I feel you will win this series easily.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra believes England would miss Harry Brook in the series, pointing out that he was an important component of the Bazball style. He also stated that the series will be a huge test for Ben Stokes, both as a batter and captain.