Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra used to be extremely joyful to look an all-round show from Hardik Pandya in India’s first T20I towards England on Thursday (July 7). The 28-year-old smashed a half-century and likewise picked up 4 wickets to lend a hand India thump the hosts through 50 runs at Southampton.
Pandya appears to be relishing his new position at No. 5 and proved that he had the sport to anchor the innings in addition to cross large on the demise. His fifty got here off simply 32 balls and helped India get just about the 200-run mark.
Pandya additionally got here again with the ball to select up 4 a very powerful wickets whilst conceding 33 runs in his 4 overs. Talking in a video on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra defined why a fully-fit Hardik Pandya is very vital to the Indian workforce. He mentioned:
“Even if England bowled smartly against the top, what about Hardik Pandya? The best way he batted, 51 in simply 33 balls, used to be implausible. His workforce continues to appear as much as him and he has turn out to be, in keeping with me, essentially the most treasured T20 participant in India. He additionally picked up 4 wickets of the likes of Dawid Malan, Jason Roy, Liam Livingstone & Sam Curran.”
Aakash Chopra on Deepak Hooda and Suryakumar Yadav’s cameos
The Indian batting order for the primary T20I had Deepak Hooda at No. 3 and Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4. Captain Rohit Sharma were given off to a brisk get started, however as soon as once more didn’t convert it into a large ranking, perishing for twenty-four.
Alternatively, Hooda ensured that he saved the momentum moving into India’s choose and performed a quickfire cameo of 33 off 17 balls. Aakash Chopra used to be inspired through his selfless knock. He feels the selectors can have a real headache when the likes of Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant go back for the second one T20I.
He said:
“Deepak Hooda got here to the crease when Rohit used to be brushed aside, however he attacked with out eager about his position when Virat Kohli comes again into the facet within the subsequent recreation.”
Aakash Chopra endured:
“Hooda is repeatedly asking questions like ‘What’s going to you (selectors) do with me when Kohli, Pant, [KL] Rahul and many others. come again?’ It will be difficult as a result of within the probabilities that Hooda has were given, you’ll be able to’t do higher than this. However that is Kohli’s quantity, proper? So what is going to occur?”
Aakash Chopra additionally hailed Suryakumar Yadav, who scored 39 off simply 19 balls, for enjoying but every other impactful cameo for India in T20Is. He added:
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“One can argue that Suryakumar Yadav is in all probability higher suited for the No.3 place. In T20 cricket, in the event you play in your milestones then you’re destructive your workforce’s probabilities. Suryakumar Yadav’s way used to be refreshing and value observing.”
It is going to be attention-grabbing to look if India make any adjustments to their XI when Kohli and Pant turn out to be to be had for the closing two T20Is.