Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has questioned Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy for not giving Varun Chakravarthy his complete quota of overs against the Netherlands. India clinched a 17-run win against the Dutch at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Wednesday.
Chakravarthy returned with impressive figures of 3-14 in three overs he bowled against Scott Edwards’ team. The mystery spinner has surprisingly not completed his quota of four overs in four matches of the T20 World Cup 2026, barring one game.
In four matches of the tournament, Chakravarthy has scalped nine wickets at an average of 6.89, bowling only 12 overs.
“Why are you not getting Varun Chakaravarthy to bowl his overs? You are not giving him all his overs. You have done it only once, against USA, because you used only five bowlers. Do you do that with any batter? Do you ask them to come out if they are playing well and have scored 50-60 runs?” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator said the 34-year-old might have taken a five-wicket haul if he had been given his complete allotted overs.
“You don’t do that. They can play even 60 balls. A bowler can’t bowl more than 24 balls, and you are not letting him bowl those 24 either. He would have taken at least one five-wicket haul, but you didn’t let him do it. You didn’t play him against New Zealand as well. If a batter needs rhythm, a bowler also needs that,” he observed.
The former Delhi cricketer said Hardik Pandya should be given the new ball after Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah opened the innings against the Netherlands.
“I feel Hardik should be bowled with the new ball. You are making (Jasprit) Bumrah bowl with Arshdeep (Singh) currently, but you have to get four overs from Hardik. When Axar Patel comes in the next match, there will be left-handers in front – Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton and David Miller. So you would think when to get Axar to bowl his overs,” he said.
The reputed commentator highlighted that Pandya can provide breakthroughs with the new ball, but he isn’t very effective in the middle overs.
“For that, it is important that you make Hardik bowl his overs with the new ball. Who dismissed Sahibzada Farhan? He only did it. Give him the new ball. He can pick up wickets. You shouldn’t give him the fourth, fifth, or sixth over of the powerplay. Middle overs are not his strength. I think Hardik should open with Arshdeep Singh,” Chopra observed
India will take on South Africa in their opening game of the Super 8 stage at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Sunday.
