In 2024’s T20 World Cup, Aakash Chopra wants Rohit Sharma and his starter to make the most of the powerplay.
The next stage of the global T20 event will occur in the West Indies and the USA. Ireland, Pakistan, and the United States will be the first three opponents that The Men in Blue will confront in group games in New York. Their final first phase game will happen in Lauderhill against Canada.
Chopra highlighted the importance of fully leveraging the powerplay in the T20 World Cup in a video on his YouTube channel:
“It will be extremely necessary to maximize the first six overs in West Indies and New York. As soon as the ball becomes slightly old and the field opens up, the ball will not come nicely onto the bat, and run-scoring will become slightly difficult.”
Aakash Chopra
The former opener for India continued by saying that Rohit Sharma would need to make the most of the new ball, as could maybe Yashasvi Jaiswal beside him:
“It will be extremely necessary to maximize the first six overs in West Indies and New York. As soon as the ball becomes slightly old and the field opens up, the ball will not come nicely onto the bat, and run-scoring will become slightly difficult.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra believes India should aim for 45 to 55 runs in the early six overs. He also mentioned that hitting 60 runs would be an amazing achievement.
Aakash Chopra comments on Rohit Sharma’s ultra-aggressive strategy in T20Is against Afghanistan
According to Aakash Chopra, Rohit Sharma tried to be extremely aggressive in the opening two Twenty20 Internationals against Afghanistan:
“The way Rohit batted in the first two matches, it seemed like he was adopting an ultra-aggressive mode, that he would try to hit every ball and do that without getting set.
“He got run out once. There, too, he hit Fazalhaq Farooqi after stepping out and got out off the first ball in Indore.”
Aakash Chopra
The cricketer-turned-commentator does not anticipate India’s skipper to adjust his strategy in the last T20I against Afghanistan:
“You ask whether he will be seen batting slightly differently in Bengaluru.
“I feel he will try to bat similarly. Rohit Sharma is at his very best when he is aggressive. He showed that by doing it consistently in the ODI World Cup as well. It made a difference in the end.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra further stated that Rohit will be expected to score 35 to 40 runs at a strike rate of 150-175 at the T20 World Cup.
While conceding that doubts were made about whether he could have extended such an innings in last year’s ODI World Cup, Aakash Chopra stated that it would be sufficient in the short format.
