Former India opener turned commentator Aakash Chopra has shared his predictions for Day 4 of the first Test between India and South Africa. After having a rain-hit day, Team India managed to bowl out the opponents and get a lead of 146 runs, with nine wickets in hand in the second innings. And, they hope to post a target of at least 300 runs for the host as well.
In a video shared on his Youtube channel, Aakash Chopra predicted that Virat Kohli will not declare soon. He also hoped Indian batters will be able to add a few decent partnerships.
He said: “I feel India will be all out. The match is running very fast. India will get bowled out on Day 4 and there will be excitement in the match. I feel there will definitely be two partnerships of 50 or more runs. There are a lot of chances of wickets falling with the new ball, you have already lost Mayank. But I am still seeing two half-century partnerships from here, there is hope.”
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Aakash Chopra also expects South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada, who claimed three wickets in India’s first innings, to do well in the second innings too. And, he also stated that South Africa will be dealt at least one blow before the stumps.
He added: “I feel Rabada will take four or more wickets. He might bowl four no-balls as well but four or more wickets for Kagiso Rabada. I feel South Africa will also lose at least one wicket by the time the day finishes. But one thing will be the lead you will have because at the moment you have a lead of 146 but how far should India go?”
Meanwhile, he also opined on Team India’s batting collapse in the first innings. He also gave examples of earlier occasions as well.
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He shared: “India’s batting collapses, it is happening everywhere. This has been a slight issue. If you are 272 for 3 and are then bowled out for 327, it means 55 for 7 – not good enough, honestly not good enough and that’s a big question. It happened in Adelaide as well, they got all out for 36. It happened in Leeds also, we were all out for 78. We collapsed in Kanpur also. England also got all out for 68, collapses are happening everywhere but we have to look at ourselves, how we can improve.”
“Something needs to be done so that one wicket does not bring two to five more wickets. Even if there is a partnership for 20-30 runs, the things change. This I feel is a thing which is a negative for India, let’s be very very honest,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
