Aakash Chopra advises India to aim for batting first if they score the toss win in the third T20I against Afghanistan. The match is in Bengaluru on Wednesday, January 17.
India, the Men in Blue, already leads with a solid 2-0 in the three-match series. How? By securing decisive victories in Mohali and Indore. They nailed these wins by six wickets each, post winning the toss and deciding to chase.
In an online video about the third T20I on his YouTube Channel, Chopra suggests that Rohit Sharma should aim to set a target, if he happens to win the toss.
“India should do one thing, which they should have probably done consistently. They should bat first if they win the toss in Bengaluru. You want to win the series, there is no doubt about that, but you want to challenge yourself as well. If you keep winning tosses and chase repeatedly, the job becomes easy.”
“The opposing team made 150 and 170-odd in the first two matches and you chased them easily. So you haven’t been tested. Then you get stuck one day, like it happened against England in the semi-final (of the 2022 T20 World Cup). You might not win the toss in the World Cup and might have to bat first.”
Aakash Chopra
India will almost certainly get to bat first if they so want, according to Chopra. Afghanistan, he reasoned, will look to chase anyhow, should they win the toss.
“You can play an extra fast bowler here” – Aakash Chopra
Avesh Khan should be included to India’s playing XI as an extra seamer, according to Aakash Chopra, particularly if they plan to bat first.
“In such a scenario, will you play three spinners? You got Shivam Dube to bowl the 19th over but you don’t want to do that. He is not your 19th-over bowler. So I feel you can play an extra fast bowler here.”
Aakash Chopra
Washington Sundar will likely have to give way to the right-arm seamer, according to the reputable pundit.
“In whose place will you play him? I think Washington Sundar will have to go out because Washi is not getting used properly. He is not getting enough bowling. Ravi Bishnoi is bowling in the powerplay and Axar Patel is bowling later. Axar picks two wickets for sure.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra imagines India won’t play Kuldeep Yadav in the game on Wednesday. He asserts that the left-arm wrist-spinner isn’t being tested and will definitely join India’s T20 World Cup squad.