According to Aakash Chopra, India’s upcoming ODI World Cup on home soil might require flat batting surfaces if they wish to be successful. After losing the third and final match of their series against Australia in Chennai on Wednesday (March 22), with a margin of 21 runs, Chopra suggested that India should not have bowler-friendly surfaces if they are to have a good chance of success in the World Cup.
“Plenty of questions to ponder. A huge takeaway for me is that we will need absolute road-like pitches when the World Cup happens because we neither need seaming nor turning tracks.”
“When the ball was swinging, we faced difficulties. We lost five wickets while chasing 180 once and were bowled out for 117 the second time. When the ball turned, we couldn’t chase a 270-run total.” He further added.
India’s batting struggled in marginally bowler-friendly circumstances against a skilled bowling line-up. Chopra further added:
“When New Zealand and Sri Lanka came, we played on very good pitches and were scoring 350-400 runs. Those are the kind of pitches that we are absolutely outstanding but from these three matches, we came to know that we get stuck when the opposition is good and there is slight help from the pitch.”
“When you are not the No.1, the heart pains” – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra felt disappointed as India lost the No.1 spot in the ODI rankings. He stated:
“I am heartbroken because we are no longer the No. 1 ODI team in the world. A lot of people say that the ICC rankings don’t have any significance but when you are not the No. 1, the heart pains.”
The former cricket player-turned-commentator highlighted that the result was different from what they had hoped for, as India usually wins deciding matches and must-win games in bilateral series.