Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra slammed Hardik Pandya’s captaincy after he didn’t bowl Yuzvendra Chahal towards the fag end in the second T20I against the West Indies at the Providence Stadium, Guyana on Sunday, which the home team won by two wickets.
In the 16h over, Chahal turned the match on its head, taking wickets of Jason Holder and Shimron Hetmyer. Furthermore, Romario Shepherd was run-out on the first ball and Chahal conceded only two runs in that over.
Chahal had figures of 2-19 in the three overs he bowled but Pandya surprisingly backed Arshdeep Singh for the 18th over and gave the penultimate over to rookie pacer Mukesh Kumar, who could not defend 12 runs against Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph.
It was a surprising move from Hardik Pandya as the ball was gripping and Chahal has all the experience under his belt.
Speaking on his YouTube Channel, Chopra said, “Why did you not give Yuzi Chahal that over? He is our best bowler. He picked up two wickets in the 16th over and there was a run-out. It hurt you because you felt that you are back in the game. West Indies were winning the match very easily. Till the time Nicholas Pooran was there, it seemed like there was no chance.”
The reputed commentator added India was able to get back into the game after Mukesh Kumar dismissed Nicholas Pooran and then Chahal bowled a terrific 16th over.
“However, against the run of play, he hit the ball hard but found Sanju Samson in the way. As soon as Nicholas Pooran gets out, you feel you might have a chance but for that opportunity to develop, more wickets had to fall and Yuzi Chahal did that job.”
The former KKR batter added that when a team is defending, the penultimate over is more important than the final over.
“When you are defending a total, the 19th over is more important than the 20th. When the runs are very few and wickets are also less, then the 18th over also becomes important.”
Chopra added not giving Chahal his fourth over was a blunder by Hardik Pandya.
“So Yuzi Chahal could have bowled the 18th over after the 16th but he didn’t. He should have 100% bowled the 19th over because only a run-a-ball was required – 12 runs off 12 deliveries – but he didn’t bowl that as well. The 20th over’s turn did not come.”
The third T20I of the series will be played at the same venue of Providence Stadium, Guyana on Tuesday.
