Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has named his top five T20I pacers of 2024. Jasprit Bumrah and Shaheen Shah Afridi are among the seamers who failed to get a place on his list. However, Chopra limited his selection to bowlers who have played at least 10 T20Is in the year as well. He also considered the quality of the opposition while making his choices as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “At No. 5, I have kept Haris Rauf. He took three wickets against India if you talk about the World Cup, seven wickets against New Zealand in New Zealand, and five wickets against Australia in just two games. He has picked up 27 wickets in 17 matches at an average of 19 and an economy of nine,” he said.
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“At No. 4, I have kept Lockie Ferguson. He has played only 10 matches. However, he has taken 20 wickets. His economy is just 4.88 and he has an average of 9.25. He picked up four wickets against Australia in just 3.5 overs while giving 12 runs. He has a few three-wicket hauls as well. At No. 3, we have put Matheesha Pathirana’s name. There is no doubt that he has grown in stature. He has picked up 28 wickets in 16 matches at an economy of 7.67 and an average of 13.25. The last time he went wicketless was against South Africa in New York,” Chopra again shared.
Aakash Chopra also added that Pathirana’s performances are even more praiseworthy as he doesn’t bowl with the new ball. He also added that an economy of close to 7.50 despite bowling predominantly at the death overs is great as well. In the same video, Aakash Chopra also picked Abbas Afridi as the second Pakistan seamer in his top five players as well.
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“I have gone with a slightly left-field selection here. I have not kept Shaheen Shah Afridi, but the other Afridi, Abbas Afridi, at No. 2. He has picked up 30 wickets in 18 matches. His economy is less than 8.5 and has an average of 14.96. He has taken a lot of wickets consistently and against good teams,” he said. “I have kept Arshdeep Singh at No. 1. He has picked up 36 wickets in 18 matches at an economy of 7.49 and an average of 13.5. He lives up to any parameter you set. He gives a breakthrough every time with the new ball. The last time he went wicketless was 27th June,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
