Aakash Chopra wonders why India hasn’t tried Shivam Dube, Venkatesh Iyer, or Vijay Shankar for Hardik Pandya’s alternate position. He emphasized the IPL won’t assist in this mission anymore.
Hardik Pandya is presently out with an ankle injury received during India’s ODI World Cup match against Bangladesh. While Dube was not given an opportunity in the recently finished five-match T20I series against Australia despite being in the squad, none of the aforementioned trio have been selected for the South Africa trip.
In a video posted to his YouTube account, Chopta was asked how India would develop a backup for Hardik if they don’t provide chances to Dube, Iyer, and Shankar in bilateral series, to which he replied:
“What you are saying is absolutely correct. How will it work out if your only aim in bilateral series is to win? It won’t work out as you are not trying anyone. In fact, it was my problem in this series (vs Australia), you didn’t have a single bowler in the top six and a batter at No. 8.”
Aakash Chopra
The former India opener added:
“What is the logic behind this and we are talking about a scenario when Rohit (Sharma), (Virat) Kohli, Shubman (Gill) and KL Rahul are not there. It is a problem in my opinion because IPL will not do this job now.”
Aakash Chopra
In the T20I series against Australia, the Men in Blue utilized solely specialist bowlers. While Dube was not selected for the XI, Tilak Varma and Yashasvi Jaiswal were not given a chance.
“Why will Shivam Dube, Venkatesh Iyer and Vijay Shankar get to bowl when you can play six bowlers?” – Aakash Chopra
The Impact Player regulation suggests that players like Shivam Dube, Venkatesh Iyer, and Vijay Shankar won’t be able to bowl in the IPL, as Aakash Chopra pointed out. He thought to himself:
“IPL could have done this job earlier. It’s not going to do it now. Let’s make peace with it that once the Impact Player rule has come, why will Shivam Dube, Venkatesh Iyer and Vijay Shankar get to bowl when you can play six bowlers?”
Aakash Chopra
According to the renowned analyst, the Indian think-tank blew it by not testing them against the Aussies. He said:
“So that’s not going to happen, whether you like it or hate it. You should consistently keep doing it in bilateral series but you haven’t done that. It’s a trick missed. I am with you on this one.”
Aakash Chopra
It is prudent to search for backups for an important all-rounder like Hardik Pandya. However, it may not be advisable to offer players chances only because they can roll their arms over, since this might jeopardize the hitting department.
