Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra feels Afghanistan and Bangladesh might not be able to challenge India and Australia in the Super 8 stage. Chopra reckons it could have been a different story if India were playing Afghanistan in Guyana, where the pitch is expected to be helpful for the spinners.
However, India and Afghanistan will take on each other at Barbados, which has a flat pitch and thus the renowned commentator feels the Rashid Khan-led team might not be able to challenge the potent Indian team.
Afghanistan has also never beaten India in T20Is. Furthermore, Bangladesh isn’t in the greatest of forms as their talisman all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has performed in only one game.
“I see it as a slightly easy pool. What could be the challenge against Afghanistan? If this match had been in Guyana, which it’s not, it would have been an even contest because it would have been a spin-to-win game. The match is in Barbados and since the pitch will be flat, India will go in with an upper hand. The flatter the pitch, the more you will keep moving away from Afghanistan in terms of quality,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“Bangladesh is a team that always troubles but this Bangladesh team is playing okay cricket. They have qualified for sure but are they playing the best cricket possible? The captain hasn’t scored runs and Shakib Al Hasan hasn’t scored runs apart from one match. That much confidence hasn’t been seen in any other batter,” Chopra observed.
The renowned commentator reckons Australia and India could face each other in the summit clash of the T20I showpiece.
“Then there is Australia, which is a title-contender team, there is no doubt about that because the team is actually very good. They have depth in batting and variety in bowling. This team is going to give a contest on the 24th and this could be the precursor to the symphony. India and Australia might face off in the final once again,” he said.
Chopra picked India and Australia to advance to the semifinals of the tournament.
“So which two teams do I feel will progress from this group? One I am saying India should progress and then they will play their semi-final in Guyana. There are more chances of that match also going in our favor. I am going towards Australia as the second team. I feel these two teams will qualify,” Chopra stated.
India will begin their Super 8 campaign against Afghanistan at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday.
