In his YouTube video, Aakash Chopra expressed his doubts about Rajasthan Royals’ decision to open with Ravichandran Ashwin in their IPL 2023 game against the Punjab Kings. The PBKS team had scored 198 runs when they batted first on April 5, in Guwahati. During RR’s chase, Jos Buttler was injured while taking a catch, and Ashwin came out to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, Ashwin was dismissed for a duck, and RR lost the game by five runs. Chopra questioned this decision and was surprised that Ashwin was chosen to open, given the circumstances.
He said, “Why did Ashwin go to open? We were all surprised that what was Ashwin doing there. Jos Buttler was probably injured because he might have hurt his hand while taking a catch, then why was he sitting outside wearing the pads and gloves? Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal can also open.”
He further added, “When everyone is playing off-position, then why Ashwin? But that’s Rajasthan. Ashwin was dismissed for zero off four balls. Yashasvi Jaiswal was looking good, a six off the first ball, but he also got out. Arshdeep Singh picked up two wickets with the new ball.”
According to Sanju Samson’s post-match interview, the Rajasthan Royals decided not to send Devdutt Padikkal as an opener in their IPL game, as they wanted a left-hander in the middle order to face Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar. However, some people feel that they could have used Dhruv Jurel, who was the ‘Impact Player,’ as an opener instead.
Aakash Chopra reflects on the significance of Jos Buttler’s dismissal in Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2023 chase
Aakash Chopra pointed out that Jos Buttler’s unconventional dismissal might have been a sign that things could go wrong for the Rajasthan Royals in their IPL game. He elaborated: “Then Buttler and Sanju Samson were playing well but the way Buttler got out, you knew that things are going to change. Nathan Ellis’ ball hit the bat and then the pad, and caught and bowled. Who gets out like that?”
He believes Padikkal’s talent is not being properly utilized by Rajasthan Royals, and stated, “Then Devdutt Padikkal was playing with Sanju Samson. Devdutt Padikkal is not batting very well. I feel Devdutt Padikkal should find a franchise where his number’s place is empty. This player was very different when he was playing for Bangalore because he used to get to open.”
He concluded with: “Sanju got out from the other end and then Devdutt also got out. Dhruv Jurel was batting with Shimron Hetmyer, they were batting well, but in the end, Rajasthan fell short by just five runs.”
In the match, Sanju Samson was the highest scorer for the Rajasthan Royals with 42 runs off 25 deliveries. While Shimron Hetmyer contributed 36 runs off 18 balls and Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten at 32 runs off 15 deliveries, they couldn’t manage to take their team over the finish line. Despite their impressive hitting, the Royals lost the match.