Aakash Chopra believes that Mohammed Shami should have been used in place of Shardul Thakur during India’s World Cup 2023 match against Afghanistan and wants the former to be used in their upcoming matchup with Pakistan.
Ravichandran Ashwin was substituted by Shardul in India’s starting lineup for the match against Afghanistan on Wednesday (October 11) in Delhi because Rohit Sharma and company needed an extra seamer on hand. The all-rounder’s statistics were 1/31 in six overs of seam bowling, and he was unable to bat as the Men in Blue triumphed convincingly by eight wickets with 15 overs remaining.
In a video posted on his YouTube account, Chopra made the case that Shardul wouldn’t be needed to bat against Afghanistan and encouraged the Indian think tank to start Shami in his place. He clarified:
“There is always a discussion about whether Shardul Thakur or Mohammed Shami should be played. The team went towards Shardul. We had discussed as well that I want Shami but the team will play Shardul because they will get batting at No. 8 from him.”
Aakash Chopra
The previous Indian opening continued:
“I was saying the No. 8 won’t get to bat. If your No. 8 gets to bat against Afghanistan, then leave it, let it go. Someone else can play those big shots and if they don’t, you will lose and then you can say – ‘well played’. The batting was not going to come. I feel you should play Shami against Pakistan as well.”
Aakash Chopra
On Saturday, October 14, in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, India and Pakistan will square off. Given the larger boundaries at the stadium, Shami is unlikely to be included in the XI, but they may think about bringing Ashwin back.
Aakash Chopra Explains Why Shami is a Better Choice Than Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur is not a destructive batter, and Mohammed Shami should be used as a third specialist seamer, said Aakash Chopra in his conclusion. He said:
“Shardul is also a run-a-ball player at the position he bats . It’s not that he will score 45 runs off 20 balls. He is not that sort of a player. He doesn’t play like that. The team wants a little batting depth at No. 8, a bit of insurance and assurance and that is why Shardul is there but I feel Mohammed Shami should be there.”
Aakash Chopra
In 25 ODI innings, Shardul has accrued 329 runs at an average of 17.31. The team management is confident that he can perform down the order in a time of need because to his unbroken half-century against South Africa and his success with the willow in Test cricket.