Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra slammed Shai Hope’s captaincy in the third T20I at the Holkar Stadium, Indore on Sunday. The visitors suffered a 14-run loss after they were restricted to 209 in the run-chase of 224.
Chopra questioned Hope for removing Shamar Joseph from the attack despite the pacer bowling a good first over. The renowned commentator said it helped the Indian batters in settling in the middle.
Joseph conceded only three runs in the second over of the innings and got the big wicket of Sanju Samson. However, the express fast bowler was surprisingly removed from the attack and he was reintroduced into the attack in the sixth over but he was then taken for 21 runs.
Chopra added the early dismissal of in-form Shai Hope also didn’t help the West Indies in the run-chase.
“Hope getting out, with Arshdeep going around the stumps and executing the plan extremely well, which was beautiful, because when you go around the stumps, you have to go toward the edge of the box, and your angle becomes so large that there are greater chances of a gap getting created,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“After that, when we were batting and they were bowling, we had scored 11 runs in two overs. Shamar Joseph had dismissed Sanju Samson. He was bowling at 150 kph, had conceded three runs, but he (Hope) stopped him. He was stopped, and our guys thrashed the incoming guy. It was a game-changing moment. That was Hope’s mistake. This was a cardinal sin,” he added.
The former Delhi cricketer praised Prince Yadav and Arshdeep Singh for playing crucial cameos at the fag end of the innings. Yadav scored 13 runs off six balls whereas Singh scored 11 runs off eight deliveries.
“You don’t get this opportunity every time. I am talking about Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav. Surprise, surprise, I am talking about their batting and not their bowling. They do well in bowling, but I am talking about their batting because you get only one chance in our famed and very deep batting lineup. You get a chance to bat once in a while,” he said.
Chopra said Singh and Yadav’s crucial contributions changed the game in India’s favor.
“Can you make the most of that opportunity? They did that. Arshdeep hit a six and Prince Yadav hit three fours. Suddenly, the two together scored 24 runs, and we won by 14 runs. The way we lost wickets in the second half of the innings, it seemed like we might not be able to play 20 overs. Those crucial contributions changed the game. 205 became 223, and you were able to defend,” Chopra observed.
The fourth T20I between India and the West Indies will be played at Hyderabad on Wednesday.
