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Aakash Chopra gives 3 options to neutralise toss effect in T20Is
By SMCS - Jan 8, 2022 11:30 am
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Former India opener turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has shared his views on the toss of the T20 format as he believes T20 games have become lopsided, as the team that bats second usually win matches.

india
Team India

He explained: “Toss has become lopsided. You come to know at the toss itself, who will win the T20 match. Nine of ten times the team chasing wins because the ball gets wet later. Even if the ball doesn’t get too wet, the chase still becomes easier because the ball comes onto the bat better if there is slight moisture on the pitch.”

He continued: “The team bowling second can have a Super-Sub. It means, the team that wins the toss and bowls first will play with 11 players and the team batting first gets an extra player – it is your choice if you want to take an extra batter or bowler.”

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However, this rule has earlier been used in the 50-over format earlier too where both sides could name the 12th player at the toss as well. Aakash Chopra has also shared a suggestion given in an article in the Wisden. He stated: “The two captains don’t do a toss. There is a chit in the two captains’ hands. It is written in the chit how many deliveries early they will chase the target. Whichever captain says that he will finish the match earlier, he gets to chase.”

“My suggestion is to give an extra PowerPlay over to the team batting first. The team batting second will get a six-over PowerPlay, but the team batting first will get one over between the 10th to 16th overs, where only two fielders will be outside the circle,” he added.

team india
Team India

He has again opined that the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) new penalty for slow over-rates in the T20Is is a ‘fantastic’ rule. As per the new ICC rules, the bowling side can keep an extra fielder within the 30-yard circle for every over after the time as well.

He said: “The ICC has said that the slow over-rate will be seriously penalized. In my opinion, there cannot be a more dangerous penalty than this. All other penalties are useless, whether you ban the captain or in the IPL you fine the team – financial fines, the match fee is cut – there is no value of that. The value is only of this thing – that you make a mistake and you had to pay for it at that moment itself. People will run quickly now and will try to finish the overs on time. In my opinion, it is a fantastic rule.”

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However, this rule will be applicable from the West Indies versus Ireland match on January 16 for the first time. While adding that a “runs penalty” can be an option, Aakash Chopra added: “Another option was to have a runs penalty in the overs you bowl after the stipulated time. You double the run rate and give that penalty, that is also an option but I feel this is a very good way.”

“Bring this rule in the IPL as well. The teams take four overs at times to finish a match. Why? That’s just not fair. If you start the match at 7:30, it finishes at 11:30. Earlier it used to start at 8:00, which means it became 12:00. It is everyone’s loss,” Aakash Chopra concluded.