Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned Rohit Sharma for not utilizing all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja well with both ball and bat in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup 2024 win against the USA. He added that the spin-bowling all-rounder needs to be among wickets and runs as well. However, India restricted the USA to 110/8 before reaching the target with seven wickets and 10 balls to spare to qualify for the Super Eights as well.
Reflecting on India’s bowling in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “The biggest question is what is being done with Ravindra Jadeja. The captain didn’t get Jaddu to bowl even a single over. Even Shivam Dube was made to bowl, although he proved expensive in that over and it seems like he is not fully ready to bowl at this level. However, not giving a single over to Jaddu and later not getting him to bat up the order, the confidence in Jaddu was seen lost suddenly. The guy needed to score a few runs and take a few wickets in any case because this tournament hasn’t gone well for him, he has a career strike rate of 125 with the bat, and you are slightly surprised if the captain doesn’t get you to bowl also.”
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However, the veteran also questioned whether the all-rounder not being promoted in the batting order shows a lack of confidence in him. While Jadeja didn’t get to bowl, fellow left-arm spinner Axar Patel bowled three overs. Shivam Dube, who gave away 11 runs in the only over he bowled, was also preferred over Jadeja as well. And, Aakash Chopra praised Arshdeep Singh for claiming two wickets in the first over.
“Arshdeep Singh opened the bowling. First Babar, then Jahangir. It seems like he is cleaning up all Mughal emperors one by one. Who is next? He cleaned up Jahangir off the first ball and then another guy was cleaned up in the same over,” he said.
“Wickets kept falling at regular intervals but surprise, surprise – Bumrah didn’t get even a single wicket, believe it or not. If Jasprit Bumrah bowls four overs on such a pitch and doesn’t get a wicket, you will say this is what is called Kalyug. Player of the Match in the last two matches, bowled well here also, but wicketless. Hardik Pandya picked up two wickets. His two-wicket quota is absolutely certain. He got two wickets by bowling according to this pitch and took a catch as well. Arshdeep picked up four wickets – Player of the Match, absolutely outstanding. Axar Patel picked up a wicket. Siraj also bowled well. He has been economical,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
