‘You missed a trick…..’ – Aakash Chopra criticizes skipper Hardik Pandya’s use of bowlers during first T20I match against West Indies

Former India cricketer turned analyst Aakash Chopra criticized skipper Hardik Pandya’s use of the bowlers during the first T20I match against the West Indies. Notably, the home team posted the target of 150 runs for the Men in Blue in the given 20 overs after opting to bat first. However, the Hardik Pandya-led side fell short of chasing down it, losing the first game of the five-match series by 4 runs at Brain Lara Cricket Academy.

The former India opener says that India missed the trick by not giving four overs to star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal despite scalping two quick wickets, and this thing cost them the match. The cricket commentator expressed his disappointment that Chahal was only allowed to bowl three overs. The 45-year-old analyst feels that Chahal can dismiss great batter Nicholas Pooran as he possesses the ability to bowl well against left-handed batsmen, but the great spinner was restricted to only three overs.

“India didn’t start that well with the ball. Then came Yuzi Chahal and he picked up two wickets in an over. After that, he was stopped. In my opinion, if Yuzi Chahal didn’t bowl four overs in yesterday’s match despite taking two wickets in his first over, you missed a trick. I was a little disappointed because you were holding back his three overs. You could have dismissed Nicholas Pooran because he bowls very well to lefties but you stopped him,” Aakash said on his YouTube channel, Cricket Ki Chaupal.

You don’t know whether having too many options is a bane or a boon: Aakash Chopra

Furthermore, the former India batter also pointed out that only Kuldeep bowled four overs, but the other two spinners (Axar and Chahal) were not allowed and slammed great all-rounder Hardik Pandya for not using bowlers at the right time.

“Kuldeep Yadav bowled his entire quota of overs. Axar Patel bowled only two overs because a left-hander in Nicholas Pooran was playing and he could have hit him, so you didn’t give him overs. At times you don’t know whether having too many options is a bane or a boon,” he added further.