Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned Avesh Khan’s non-selection for Team India’s recently concluded white-ball series against Sri Lanka. He added that a clear roadmap should be created to groom pacers like Avesh and Prasidh Krishna. Despite Jasprit Bumrah being rested for the Sri Lanka tour, Avesh wasn’t selected in India’s squad for both the T20I and ODI series. While Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, and Khaleel Ahmed were picked for the shortest format, Harshit Rana was picked for the ODIs along with them as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “It’s a good question because the team recently went for the T20 World Cup and Avesh Khan was in the reserves. After that, where is Avesh Khan? If we want to invest in him, Avesh Khan should have been around. He should have been there on the Sri Lanka tour and he should have played matches in Zimbabwe as well. Where was he – nowhere to be seen,” he responded.
ALSO READ: “Shubman’s captaincy is very good” – Ravi Bishnoi on Shubman Gill
“I personally rate Prasidh Krishna very highly although his numbers are not looking very good in T20Is. He has been hit a lot whenever he has played but I would like to invest. He has the potential to be a very good bowler at the highest level also. So they should start investing in him from now itself and there should be a clear roadmap for Avesh Khan as well,” the former India opener further added.
However, Aakash Chopra also noted that India caps shouldn’t be distributed. He again cited the example of Chetan Sakariya, who played an ODI and two T20Is but is no longer on the radar now as well. He was also asked when Suryakumar Yadav would play for India in ODIs and Tests as well.
ALSO READ: Hardik Pandya shares happiness after winning back the love of fans
“Not in the near future. I think that decision has been taken. ODI cricket is played less now in any case and the team has decided now itself that they are not keeping him for the Champions Trophy and will consider him a T20 specialist. It also means there is no chance at all in Tests. There is a different level of competition for Tests. There are so many players who are knocking on the door and want to break it and come in. The players who have scored runs, Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan, I feel they might not play the next Test. So SKY is not going to play 50-over and five-day cricket now,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
