According to Aakash Chopra, Axar Patel is the ideal candidate as India’s key spin-bowling all-rounder over Ravindra Jadeja. He stated this prediction for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Axar showed impressive figures of 2/17 in four overs. This helped India to make Afghanistan pack up at 172 in the second T20I in Indore. It happened on Sunday, January 14. With 26 deliveries and six wickets to spare, India won. All this, just before the final game in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Aakash Chopra shared a video on YouTube. He backed Axar over Jadeja for the spin-bowler’s position. But he added, Indian decision-makers might think differently. He explained:
“Axar Patel was given the Player of the Match award. I am scared when Axar gets the Player of the Match because he was dropped when he got two successive Player of the Match awards last time. They didn’t take him to South Africa and don’t know what they will do now as well.
“There is no clarity yet whether Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel is your first spinner who can bat at No. 7. It’s Axar Patel in my book. However, because the Indian team made Jaddu the vice-captain in the last series, maybe the team is thinking about Ravindra Jadeja.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra expressed his opinion that Axar shouldn’t have likely been selected as the Player of the Match for Sunday’s match, but conceding that he bowled an excellent stint. According to him, Shivam Dube’s all-around effort should have earned him the award for the second straight game.
“Rohit Sharma the captain once again came out shining” – Aakash Chopra on Ravi Bishnoi’s early strike
Aakash Chopra applauded Rohit Sharma’s leadership. He was aiding Ravi Bishnoi in dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz during Afghanistan’s third over. Here’s what he said:
“Ravi Bishnoi picked up a wicket at the start. Rohit Sharma the captain once again came out shining. He shows his captaincy prowess every time. Ravi Bishnoi was wicketless in the last match as he wasn’t given an over in the powerplay, so he asked him to come early this time, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz got out.”
Aakash Chopra
The former cricket player who is now a broadcaster also gave Arshdeep Singh credit for his few strokes after the first game ended without a wicket. He declared:
“Bishnoi picked up wickets. Arshdeep took three wickets. He bowled well in the last match as well although he went wicketless. He got two wickets in the last over in this match and two players got run out, and totally three wickets for Arshdeep Singh. Mukesh wasn’t given his full quota.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra further mentioned that Rohit contributed to Afghanistan’s 170-plus score. He mentioned that the Indian captain is heavily invested in Shivam Dube, therefore he handed him the 19th over, which went for 20 runs.