Former India opener turned famous commentator Aakash Chopra believes all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer’s impressive performances will not close the door on another all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s return to India’s T20I side as well. However, Hardik has been out of the team for quite some time now and has not been picked in the Indian squad for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka.
On the other hand, Venkatesh Iyer, who has been doing good with both the bat and the ball at No. 6, is all set for the upcoming series. In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra opined on that.
He said: “The truth is Hardik is Hardik and when he comes, he will bowl and bat, you really want to welcome him with open arms. I am not saying that because of one doing well, the doors are getting closed for the other. It is not necessary that only one out of Venkatesh or Hardik can play, both can play. Just think about it, if you have both Hardik and Venkatesh, Hardik gives you bowling and Venkatesh gives you one or two overs.”
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Aakash Chopra elaborated: “If they are your No. 6 and No. 7, suddenly your team will look so much better. Think about Australia, they will be very handy there. But Venkatesh Iyer is doing well currently, he is grabbing his chances with both hands, he is making the most of his opportunities. Hardik – as and when he is available, I don’t think the team will tell him that Venkatesh is there now. Both can happen, it’s not either-or. Both can play together, in my opinion, especially in Australia.”
Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra has also criticized the frequent changes in the team and pointed out that it can affect their progress in future too.
He added: “It is sad because too many changes are happening. COVID has made the selectors’ job very easy, they can pick everyone. But after that, you become trigger-happy. The two spinners you had picked in the T20 World Cup, you wouldn’t have picked them with closed eyes, you don’t even know where Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy are.”
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Aakash Chopra observed: “They have totally forgotten them. Ravichandran Ashwin was the third spinner, he is also missing at the moment because of injury. But I don’t think even if he was fit, you would have played him in the T20 team. What is happening? When there is no consistency in selection, there is no long-term process, you do goal setting but how do you reach there because every few weeks you get a new player.”
“If you don’t give proper opportunities to the new players and don’t get them prepared, you are actually doing a disservice. There has been a question of consistency in selection in the last little while. Therefore, I think it’s about time to put your foot down, get it sorted,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
