The former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has expressed doubts about Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) decision. They sent Shashank Singh lower down the batting order against Mumbai Indians (MI). This happened in PBKS’ IPL 2024 loss.
MI gave PBKS a 193-run target at Mullanpur on Thursday, April 18. Despite Shashank’s 25-ball 41 and Ashutosh Sharma’s 61 runs off 28 deliveries at No. 8, the hosts lost by nine runs.
In a video posted to his YouTube account, Chopra stated that the Punjab Kings were in terrible circumstances when Shashank stepped up to bat. He elaborated on his concerns over the Chhattisgarh player’s batting position.
“When your team is 14/4, it seems like the match can’t be won because you are too far behind, and your four main players’, whom you consider your main players, innings’ have ended. Shashank comes in such a situation and Jitesh (Sharma) was there with him.”
“I would want to say one thing about Shashank. The way he is batting, how did you decide that he is your finisher only, that even though he is batting well, you won’t send him up the order? What is the point? Someone who is batting well and has the temperament is not a finisher only. He plays red-ball cricket and is an experienced player.”
Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra pointed out that the Punjab Kings’ problem has been a lack of trust in young players. He used the example of Atharva Taide getting dropped after only one game.
Aakash Chopra Applauds Ashutosh Sharma’s Performance for Punjab Kings
Aakash Chopra complimented Ashutosh Sharma for a blistering knock after the Punjab Kings appeared to be out when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Shashank Singh.
“Punjab were in the game until Shashank was there. Ashutosh also came and started hitting. Then Bumrah was called to do something and he got Shashank out. Then it seemed like Mumbai would probably win the match but Ashutosh was there with Harpreet Brar. Ashutosh – remember the name.”
Aakash Chopra
The former player who now talks about cricket compared how the batsman from Railways hits the ball to Suryakumar Yadav. He really liked the smart way the batsman plays cricket.
“If we saw Suryakumar Yadav in the first innings, Ashutosh Sharma was almost his mirror image in the second innings. You all saw the type of shots he played. The thing I liked the most about him was his cricketing smarts. When Bumrah bowled a no-ball, he knew the next ball would be a yorker because it was a free hit.”
“He was sitting on his knees beforehand and played a scoop shot. You need the ability to play that shot but to sit on his knees and anticipate the yorker needs cricketing smarts. When Akash Madhwal bowled a no-ball, he knew it was a free hit and the third man and point were within the circle, he played the reverse scoop.”
Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra stated that Ashutosh Sharma understood he had to only hunt for singles when Jasprit Bumrah arrived to bowl his final over. He said that the 25-year-old was unfortunate to be disqualified, as he might have won the match for Punjab Kings on his own.
