Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra wants the Indian team management to play Rishabh Pant instead of Dinesh Karthik in the match against Hong Kong. India decided to promote Ravindra Jadeja to number four as they wanted a left-hander in the middle against Pakistan.
Chopra believes playing a specialist finisher in Dinesh Karthik is doing a grave injustice to him and India might as well play Rishabh Pant.
Meanwhile, India had opted to play with Dinesh Karthik ahead of Rishabh Pant against Pakistan. Karthik was given the edge as he has been in fine form as a finisher in the recent past while Pant is yet to announce himself in the limited-overs formats despite receiving many opportunities.
Aakash Chopra said while previewing India vs Hong Kong match on his YouTube Channel, “Can there be any changes done in this match? I feel there is one change that should but will not happen. If you have to play Jaddu (Jadeja) at No. 4 and you need a left-hander at No. 4 for sure, if you can’t do without that, then play Rishabh Pant because, at No. 7, you are doing a grave injustice to Dinesh Karthik also.”
However, former Delhi player feels India is going to stick with the same final XI they had played against Pakistan in their opening game.
“What is the gain from batting there? A specialist does not play at No. 7, but I feel that is not going to happenFormer Indian opener Aakash Chopra wants the Indian team management to play Rishabh Pant instead of Dinesh Karthik in the match against Hong Kong. India decided to promote Ravindra Jadeja to number four as they wanted a left-hander in the middle against Pakistan.
. India are going to go with the same team in this match.”
India had decided to bowl first against Pakistan and Chopra predicted that India will once again decide to bowl first against Hong Kong if Rohit Sharma wins the toss and thus Karthik wouldn’t be used much in the lower middle order.
“One viewpoint is that you should bat first after winning the toss in such a match. I feel you won’t be able to do that. You will still bowl after winning the toss because the opposition team are no pushovers, no team is a pushover.”
Chopra recalled when India was on the verge of losing against Hong Kong in the 2018 Asia Cup.
“The last time we met them in 2018, there was an opening partnership of 172 runs, sweat was coming out from every body part, it was such a bad situation, and there were questions if India will lose, because they were chasing 280 only. India won but at that time, we were in trouble.”
India will take on Hong Kong on Wednesday.
