Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra questioned Sunrisers Hyderabad’s playing combination after they suffered a seven-wicket loss against Gujarat Titans at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad on Sunday.
The renowned commentator noted that Orange Army are playing with only one spinner in their playing XI. Zeeshan Ansari, the main frontline spinner, conceded 33 runs in the four overs he bowled but went wicketless.
Kamindu Mendis and Abhishek Sharma bowled an over each but proved to be costly against GT.
Aakash Chopra praised Washington Sundar, who played a crucial knock of 49 runs off 29 balls while batting at number four.
“They (SRH) got wickets with the new ball. Pat Cummins and Mohammad Shami picked up a wicket apiece, but Washi came suddenly from a very unknown quarter. Washington Sundar’s story is very interesting. Washi didn’t bowl a single over. When he got to bat, he scored 49. How well he batted,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“They (GT) were stuck at the start, and then came a Simarjeet (Singh) over where 20 runs were scored – two fours and two sixes. Before that, Shubman Gill had hit two fours off Shami’s last two balls. Suddenly, four fours and two sixes in eight balls, and the game turned from there. After that, you realized you didn’t have spinners. You don’t play spinners at all,” he added.
The renowned commentator said SRH could have either played Rahul Chahar or Adam Zampa in the playing XI.
“Your Rahul Chahar is sitting outside. You are not giving chances to Adam Zampa. You go with just Zeeshan Ansari. Kamindu Mendis is an ambidextrous genius, but the truth is that when someone bowls with both hands, he doesn’t have that much turn and accuracy, and it was found out,” Chopra observed.
On the other hand, the former KKR player showered praise on GT’s captain Shubman Gill, who scored an unbeaten 61 runs off 43 balls. Sherfane Rutherford also smashed a fine cameo of 16-ball 35.
“Washi got out. Sherfane Rutherford came and sent a ball to the Hussain Sagar Lake. How well he hits. He is also outstanding. However, Shubman Gill, a run chase where there were chances of things going awry. However, he drank his ego, played properly, and stayed till the end. This is the sign of a true leader,” he said.
GT will next take on Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
