Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has questioned Jonny Bairstow’s place in the Punjab Kings playing XI after their two-run loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh on Tuesday.
Bairstow was dismissed for a blob against the Orange Army while trying to play a big shot across the line but was bowled by Pat Cummins. England’s right-hander has managed only 81 runs in five matches of IPL 2024 at an average of 16.20 and a strike rate of 150. Ergo, he has failed to provide a good start to the team.
Coming into the IPL, Bairstow wasn’t in the best of forms in the five-match Test series against India. The Yorkshire batter could only score 238 runs in five Test matches at an average of 23.8.
“I didn’t understand Shikhar Dhawan’s dismissal. The keeper had come up. He was first dropped. It is slightly baffling that he stepped out after the keeper had come up. You generally don’t see such mistakes from Shikhar,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“You might see it from others but not from Shikhar. However, he committed that mistake. It will be worth seeing how many chances this team keeps giving to Bairstow because you are giving him a lot of chances but the results are not coming,” the former India opener added.
On the other hand, the renowned commentator hailed Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma for their fine knocks in the run-chase. Singh smashed 46 off 25 balls whereas Sharma added 33 off 15 as they kept the fans on the edge of their seats.
“I am surprised that they reached so close because it didn’t seem like the match could reach till there. Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma batted incredibly well once again and both impressed a lot. Ashutosh Sharma’s power is of a different level. It seemed like Shashank Singh played one or two balls less as he hit a six off the last ball as well,” Chopra elaborated.
Punjab Kings will next take on Rajasthan Royals at the same venue of Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh on Saturday.
