Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra reckons India could have played Ravichandran Ashwin easily if they had decided to bat first against Australia in the WTC Final, which they ended up losing by a huge margin of 209 runs.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma decided to bowl first after winning the toss in overcast conditions. The Indian management decided to drop Ravichandran Ashwin and played Shardul Thakur as well asUmesh Yadav ahead of the all-rounder.
Rohit admitted at the toss that it was a tough decision to take as Ashwin has been a match-winner for them over the years. In fact, Ashwin had also scalped 25 wickets in four Test matches against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series earlier in the year.
Moreover, Ashwin could have contributed with the bat while batting down the order. The all-rounder has all the experience under his belt and he would have certainly added value to the team.
In fact, India had played with two spinners in Jadeja and Ashwin in the WTC Final 2021 against New Zealand but the selection had backfired as they lost by eight wickets.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “If you dissect this match, you should have probably batted first after winning the toss. You could have played Ashwin easily if you had batted – three fast bowlers and the two spinners, both of whom can bat.”
Chopra reckons Shardul Thakur is not the third fast bowler but he can play as a fourth seamer. While Thakur could not deliver much with the ball, he played a crucial knock of 51 runs in the first innings.
“Then you could have gone with Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav/Jaydev Unadkat/Shardul Thakur. Shardul will not be the third fast bowler in my personal team. He can be the fourth fast bowler. I personally don’t consider Shardul a third fast bowler. Don’t know whether it is right or wrong but that’s what I feel.”
Meanwhile, Australia posted a huge score of 469 runs in the first innings after Travis Head and Steve Smith scored fine centuries. The renowned commentator added India’s bowling was ordinary in the first innings and it led to their downfall.
“You bowled first and the bowling was extremely ordinary in the first innings. We didn’t bowl well – 469 runs. Batting was also quite ordinary. It was Thakur alongside Ajinkya Rahane that saved India the blushes.”
India was then skittled out for 234 runs in the second essay after they were given a huge target of 444 runs.
“After that, the Indian bowlers did make a slight comeback but they also ran out of steam. Then the batting collapsed once again.”
India will now tour West Indies in July.
