‘Why do our batters don’t bowl?’ – Aakash Chopra explains the importance of part-time bowlers

Under the leadership of Shikhar Dhawan, Men in Blue have reached Christchurch and will try to win the last match of the tour so that they can level the three-match ODI series against the New Zealand side 1-1. Earlier the second ODI was abandoned due to persistent rain and series opener India lost to Blackcaps by seven wickets. 

From keeping Sanju Samson on the bench to picking Rishabh Pant as their first-choice wicketkeeper in the New Zealand tour, several former cricketers have questioned the Indian management for this. 

Dhawan explained why Samson was kept on the bench for the second ODI. He opined that they wanted a sixth bowling option because of which Samson was given a rest in the second match of the series. 

Now the Indian team takes four net bowlers along with them: Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra shared his views as well on his Youtube channel and recalled the former batters who can bowl as well like Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, and Yuvraj Singh. 

“Why do our batters don’t bowl? The likes of Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, and Sachin Tendulkar used to bowl but now no one bowls. The batters have completely stopped bowling in the nets, they either bat or field and then they leave. So it is a big problem,” Chopra said.

Indian commentator also put some light on why the team is finding it hard to produce part-time bowlers. 

“Now the Indian team takes four net bowlers along with them everywhere and then there are two who throw with the side-arm. So the bowlers’ batting is improving because they bat against the side-armers, both the batters and bowlers are doing the same thing,” he added.

Earlier, former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer also raised a point that Team India should include all-rounders and part-timers in order to increase the depth of the side. 

ODI Squads:

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson(c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, James Neesham, Adam Milne.

India: Shikhar Dhawan(c), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur.