Former Indian player turned famous commentator Aakash Chopra said the absence of England all-rounder Ben Stokes will be helpful for India. He said that as he believes it will be a huge advantage for them to win the five-match Test series against England. Notably, Stokes has taken an indefinite break from cricket because of his mental health issues.
However, England has struggled in their last series against New Zealand in the longer format and considering the inexperienced top order, Stokes’ presence would have been a huge boost for them. However, with his absence, Aakash Chopra feels India will have a chance to register a victory as well.
In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra explained: “India will benefit a lot from Ben Stokes’ absence. He is as good as two players in one. In Tests, he plays like a proper batsman coming in at No.5 or No.6 and has the ability to change the course of a match. He is a wicket-taker with the ball and is also an excellent slip fielder. So his absence is good news for India.”
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He continued: “The pressure will be a bit less on India and they might be able to dismiss the tail sooner. England will be a bit weakened even before the series has started.”
Meanwhile, former Sri Lanka cricketer Kumar Sangakkara has opened up about Ben Stokes’ decision to take an indefinite break from the game. Sangakkara stated that the current situation of COVID-19 might have played a role in his decision of taking a break. As he has been travelling from one bubble to another with an injury and he even lost his father last year as well.
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“I think they all add up. A lot of time away from home, a lot of time in bubbles, restrictions in terms of freedom of movement, a lot of protocols in place, and then the added pressure of performing at such an intensely high level in the public eye. So, it is very hard to pinpoint. Different individuals deal with things differently; some are able to cope with it, some are not,” Kumar Sangakkara said to Sky Sports.
Notably, the first Test between England and India will take place at Trent Bridge, Nottingham from August 4th.
