Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has advised Yashasvi Jaiswal to play a little cautiously against Gujarat Titans. Jaiswal, who was in prime form in the five-match Test series against England (scoring 712 runs), is yet to deliver for Rajasthan Royals in the first four matches of IPL 2024.
The left-hander has managed 39 runs in four games at an average of 9.75 and a strike rate of 144.44. Jaiswal had a great run in IPL 2023, scoring 625 runs in 14 matches but hasn’t been able to replicate the same form.
The southpaw has tried to take the attack to the opposition from the get-go but the ploy hasn’t yet worked.
“My first player in focus, who has been there since the first match and has become even more now, because Yashasvi Jaiswal, my brother, it’s been many matches, hit now. The way you are getting out against left-arm pacers when they bowl short balls, you might get a left-arm pacer in this team, if they wish to play Spencer Johnson or Joshua Little,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“So they might trouble you again by bowling short balls. So please play a little cautiously because no one has spoken about it thus far and I am still saying that based on the performances in the first seven matches, a question shouldn’t be raised over your place with regards to the T20 World Cup. However, people will say something, their job is to talk,” the former India opener added.
The renowned commentator that the second player to watch out for will be RR’s Riyan Parag. The right-hander has scored 185 runs in four matches at an average of 92.50 and a blistering strike rate of 158.12 in IPL 2024.
“The second player I am seeing in focus for this particular game is Riyan Parag because the opposing team will throw a lot of spin at you. Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad will be there in that and it won’t be a big deal if they play Sai Kishore as well in this match,” he explained.
“Then you will need stability in the middle order. If you have to neutralize spin a little, you will have to look towards Indian players. That player, in my opinion, will be Riyan Parag. So we shall find out whether we will get to see Parag’s fire or not,” the cricketer-turned-commentator added.
Chopra feels gun fast bowler Nandre Burger will be the third player in focus for Rajasthan Royals.
“Then you will need stability in the middle order. If you have to neutralize spin a little, you will have to look towards Indian players. That player, in my opinion, will be Riyan Parag. So we shall find out whether we will get to see Parag’s fire or not,” the cricketer-turned-commentator concluded.
