Former Indian opener, Aakash Chopra was seen praising SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) batter, Rahul Tripathi for playing a match-winning knock against Mumbai Indians (MI). Tripathi smashed 76 runs off just 44 balls as SRH posted a formidable score of 193/6 on the board. Their bowlers then restricted MI to 190/7 and managed to win the game by three runs. While reviewing the SRH-MI clash in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra picked Tripathi’s knock as a game-defining performance.

Talking about the same, Aakash Chopra explained, “In my opinion, Rahul Tripathi. He made 76 off 44 balls, with three sixes and nine fours. He had a strike rate of 172 and I will tell you one more thing about him, he has a strike rate above 190 in winning causes. So whenever they win the match, they win because of him, he runs at double speed, and when he gets out, Hyderabad is also out along with him.”

The former India batter highlighted Rahul Tripathi’s proficiency against both spin and pace.

Observing the same, Aakash Chopra said, “He is my favorite uncapped Indian player since the time he has started playing the IPL. We all know that he is selfless. It does not bother him whether it is a spinner or a fast bowler, you get Bumrah to bowl or any other bowler, it does not matter to him.”

Chopra also appreciated that fact that Tripathi smashed Jasprit Bumrah to the cleaners. He explained: “If he goes after you, he goes after you. The one shot (pulled six) he hit against Bumrah and then hit two fours as well, suddenly you realized that he is serious quality.

Rahul Tripathi hit six and a couple of boundaries off the final three deliveries of Bumrah’s first over, the fifth over of the SRH innings. He played a pull shot for a six over mid-wicket and followed it up with two classy strokes for boundaries. Aakash Chopra concluded by asking for Tripathi’s inclusion in India’s side for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa.

Reasoning the same, Aakash Chopra said, “And I am saying, because SKY (Suryakumar Yadav) might not be available at all, why not Rahul Tripathi for the series against South Africa? You will give him an opportunity sometime or the other and if he is doing so well in T20s regularly, I think it is his right that you keep him.”

Aakash Chopra and Ian Bishop tweeted about the same as well. While Aakash Chopra tweeted, “Rahul Tripathi should be in the Indian squad for SA T20i series”, Bishop wrote: “Rahul Tripathi for International cricket,,,,,,it’s time!,,,,”.

Rahul Tripathi should be in the Indian squad for SA T20i series.

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 17, 2022

Rahul Tripathi for International cricket,,,,,,it’s time!,,,,

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) May 17, 2022