As the 2024 T20 World Cup heats up, cricket analyst Aakash Chopra has called on key players Arshdeep Singh and Ravindra Jadeja to elevate their performances in India’s crucial match against the United States of America. The clash, set for Wednesday, June 12, in New York, will determine which team advances to the Super Eights, with the loser potentially facing a must-win situation in their final group game.
In a recent video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra highlighted Arshdeep Singh’s mixed performances in India’s first two games. Although Singh has taken three wickets, he has also been uncharacteristically expensive, conceding 66 runs in eight overs despite seamer-friendly conditions.
“Arshdeep Singh has done well, there is no doubt about that. However, my wishlist goes differently with Arshdeep. He has proved to be expensive. It’s slightly surprising to see Arshdeep Singh being expensive in these conditions but he has been expensive,” Chopra stated.
Chopra emphasized the need for Singh to be both effective and economical in the upcoming matches to secure his spot as Jasprit Bumrah’s preferred seam-bowling partner over Mohammed Siraj.
“So I want him to pick up wickets with the new ball here, and then whenever he bowls, if he has to bowl 24 balls, he should concede close to 20-odd runs and pick up two or three wickets,” he elaborated.
Chopra noted that while Singh currently has an edge over Siraj, the latter’s economical bowling in the initial games has kept the competition tight. Siraj has taken one wicket and conceded only 32 runs in seven overs, compared to Singh’s more costly spells.
“Although Arshdeep is still ahead in that list, Mohammed Siraj is right there. So if you have to play in the Super Eights and you don’t want to give your place to Siraj, because only two pacers will play, and one is certainly Bumrah, Arshdeep will have to capture this and the next match,” Chopra added.
Chopra also turned his attention to Ravindra Jadeja, urging the all-rounder to deliver standout performances with both bat and ball. Jadeja has had a quiet tournament so far, failing to make significant contributions in either discipline.
“Our situation will be bad if Jaddu gets to bat in this match, it won’t be a great thing. However, if Jaddu gets to bat, it’s extremely necessary that he scores runs because Jaddu hasn’t given clutch performances as a T20 international cricketer thus far,” Chopra observed.
Jadeja’s last outings saw him dismissed cheaply against Pakistan and not getting a chance to bat against Ireland. He has also been less effective with the ball, conceding 17 runs in three overs without taking a wicket.
“We haven’t seen those dominating performances for which we know and recognize him. He hasn’t done that job thus far and not that consistently. He hasn’t hit sixes and taken wickets consistently enough. So that is also part of my wishlist. Ravindra Jadeja with the ball and the bat should give some performances,” Chopra elaborated.
The upcoming match against the United States is a crucial one for India. The top two teams from Group A will advance to the Super Eights, and a win in New York would secure India’s progression. On the other hand, a loss would mean that India must win their final group game to ensure their spot in the next stage.
As Chopra’s insights suggest, the performances of Arshdeep Singh and Ravindra Jadeja could be pivotal in determining India’s success in this high-stakes encounter. The team and fans alike will be hoping for these players to rise to the occasion and lead India to victory.
