Aakash Chopra opens up on India’s team combination for T20 World Cup

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra believes the team management can spring a surprise by playing both Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav together in the T20 World Cup. Chakravarthy is currently ahead of Yadav in the pecking order in T20Is.

In the opening T20I against South Africa at Cuttack, India decided to play Chakravarthy. Furthermore, the team played Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh together in the final XI. Chakravarthy, Bumrah and Singh all bagged two wickets apiece against the Proteas.

Meanwhile, the T20 World Cup will be played in India and Sri Lanka and thus the spinners will come in handy.

Aakash Chopra said on ESPN Cricinfo, “This team management has surprised us all many a times already. So, it could be Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav the moment we walk into the World Cup.”

Chopra highlighted that Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah are pivotal cogs in the Indian team as both of them can bowl accurately in the Powerplay as well as the death overs.

He added, “In the T20 format, you have to secure top and tail. Those are the places where runs are leaked. You make or break the game. That is where both Bumrah and Arshdeep together are really potent.”

Meanwhile, Bumrah became the second Indian bowler after Arshdeep Singh to take 100 wickets in the T20I format. Furthermore, the gun fast bowler became the first Indian and fifth overall bowler to take at least 100 wickets across all formats.

On the other hand, Chopra said the time which Hardik Pandya spent in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy came in handy. Pandya scored a match-winning knock of 59 runs off just 28 balls.

“He came in with a lot of intent. Went after the bowlers right from the word go. It just felt that the time he has spent playing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy came in handy.”

The second T20I between India and South Africa will be played at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh, on Thursday.